
Glass ErUUk 

Book , T 2."?y 



POLITICAL HISTORY 




oi^ ?5'V 



JACKSON COUNTY. 



(n^^ 



Biographical Sketches of Men Who Have 
Helped to Make It. 



PUBLISHED BY 

MARSHx\LL & MORRISON. 
1902. 






Press of 

Hudson-Kimberly Publishing Company. 

1902. 



PREFACE. 



Kansas City, Mo., October 25, 1902. 
In presenting this work to the public no attempt 
is made, for obvions reasons, to go into exhaustive 
details as to political campaigns which presented no 
unusual questions of party principles. The object in 
view is to give a general review of the political con- 
ditions of the county, together with a register of otli 
cials which ought to be interesting and valuable for 
reference. 

The biographical sketches have been confined to 
men of the present day, also for obvious reasons. 
Some have been omitted, through no fault of ours, who 
will deserve to appear. On the other hand, not one 
appears in this book, who, in our sincere belief, does 
not deserve to. All of them are clean men, and good 
citizens, who merit all the praise, without flattery, 
that can be given them. 

Asking indulgence for all errors and omissions, we 
are Very respectfully, 

MARSHALL & MORRISON, 

Publishers. 



CHAPTER I. 



Settlement of Jackson Count i'. 

It is said that the fii-sf wliite man wlio set foot in 
the teriitory now embraced in Jackson Connty was 
Colonel Daniel Morgan l^oone, third son of tlie cele- 
brated Daniel Boone, of Kentncky. 

Leavini^- his liome in Kentncky in 1787, when a 
yonth of eighteen, he made the joni-ney alone throngh 
the tiackless wikhi'ness to the little trading-post 
called St. I^onis. In the same year he continned his 
jonrney west nnlil he rea<hed the Big and Little Bine 
rivers, wiiere he fonml a gieat abnndance of beavers. 
For twelve y<'ars I lier<'aflei' he s]>enl his summers in 
St. Louis, and his wiuteis on 1 hesc^ livers, ti-a]j])ing 
bea\'ers; the skins of which lie sold on his i-etui-n hs 
St. Louis. 

The fii-sl setllemeni (^f while men in Jackson 
County was made on the Missouri River, at Fort 
Osage, now known as Sibley. The (Jovernment bought 
a tract of land six miles s ]uare, from the Indians, and 
established a fort and factory. A limited number of 
white settlers were permitted to locate on the tract 
in order to raise supplies for the fort. 

The next settlement was made by Francois Choai- 
teau in 1S21, at a point on the Missouri River opposite 
the Randolph Bluffs, about three miles from Avhat is 

5 




Judge JOHN W. HENRY. 



JOHN W. HENRY, 

judge of the Circuit Court of Jackson County, Division No. 4, 
and Democratic nominee for re-election, was born January 27, 
1825, at Cynthiana, Ky. In 1845 his parents moved to Boon- 
ville. Mo., and thence, in 184S, to Independence. Judge Henry 
began to study law at sixteen, completing it at Transylvania 
Univosily, graduating before* he was twenty. He began th- 
practice of law at Boonville in 1845, and two years later formcl 
a ])artnorship ^ilh Robert T. Prcwitt, at Fayette. His ability 
attracted attention and in 1854 Governor Sterling Price ap- 
pointed him State Superintendent of Schools, a position which 
he filled with great credit to himself and the State. From 1857 
to 18G3 h(> resided at Independence, where his widowed 
mother lived. Then he returned to Fayette and two years later 
moved to Macon City. In 1871 he was elected judge of the Cir- 
cuit Court, and his record there led to his elevation in 1876 to 
the Supreme Bench of Missouri. His record on the Supreme 
Bench stamps him as one of the ablest jurists Missouri ever 
had. Upon the expiration of his term Judge Henry moved to 
Kansas City, and in 1889 was appointed Circuit Judge. In 1890 
he was elected by the people and has been re-elected by in- 
creased majorities ever since. 

Judge Henry was married in 1849 to Maria Williams, 
daughter of Frank and Martha Williams. They have four 
children. 

Judge Henry, off the bench, is a Democrat, very democratic 
in his ways, cordial, frank and kind, especially to young men. 
He is beloved by the people of Kansas City, and of the county 
and State, regardless of party. 



now Kansas CUy. Clioutoan repix'sented the Ameri- 
can Fni- Company, of wliir-h John Jacob Asfor, of New 
York, was the head. (Iioiilcan's folh)W(Ms, lra(kMs, 
trappers, hiborers and voyayeius, bronglit tlieir fam- 
ilies and settled at the trading-post thns established 
abont the month of che Kansas Kiver. These peo- 
ple were mostly half-breeds and Canadian French- 
men, and nnmberi^l fifteen or twenty families. 

Jn 1825, by ticaly with the (Joyernment, the In- 
dian titles to the land in Jackson Connty were extin 
guished, and the conntry was thrown o[)pn to settlers. 

Next came the settlement at Blue Mills, Called the 
"Hndsijeth Settlement,'' eight or ten miles a little 
northeast of Inde])eindence on the road to Sibh^v. 
William Hudspeth, Williiam Franklin, Christophei-, 
Joel and Richard Chiles, Thomas Totts, David Bit- 
tie, Lynchbui'g Adams, Lewis Franklin, Jesse Aforrow, 
John Haml)riglit, Michael Rice, and many others 
wer*e among the eai ly and ]»romin(Mit settlers of that 
day. A mill was built and op(Mated on the east side 
of Little Blue, by Michael Rice. The first school was 
taught by George S. I'arks. In this vicinity was built 
the first church iu the county, called the "•Six-^NFile 
Ba])tist Chui-ch." 

SetthMuents followed laindiy at Indejtenih'ucc, then 
at Westport, and successively at Lone Jack, I>lue 
Springs, Kansas City, and other points such as New 
Santa Fe, Hickman's Mills, Stony Bi)int, A\'ayne 
City, Oak (J rove. Pink Hill, Greenwood, Lee's Sum- 
mit, Raytown and Buckner. The early settlements 
were all in or near the timber, or some spring of 
water, the prairie land being regarded by the settlers 

8 



as not only too difficult to open, but as adiially worth- 
less for agricultural purposes. 

Jackson County, which at tirst (Mnbra<-e(l tlic coun 
ties of Cass and J^ates, was organized by an act of 
the Legislature approved December 15, 182G. David 
Ward and Julius Emmons, of Lafayette County, and 
John Bartleson, of Clay County, were appointed com- 
missioners to select the seat of justice for the new 
county, and to exercise Ihe other ])()wcrs necessary 
for its organization. The commissioners failed to 
comply with that part of the act under wliich they 
were appointed, requiring tluni to hycate the county- 
seat within three miles of the center of the county. 
They appeared to share the opinion that pirevailed 
among the s( ttlers <it that time that the prairie coun- 
try was useless for settlement, and so they chose a 
site in the timber lands and gave it the name of 
Independence. 

On .January l*l\ 1827, the Legislature appointed 
Abraham McClelland, Richard Fristoe and Henry liur 
ris as presiding judges of the county. Lilburn W. 
Boggs, afterwards (Tovernor, was ai)i)ointed clerk of 
the court. On 'May 21, 1827, these judges were sworn 
into ofhce and held their first session. Their tirst 
order was that the county should be divided into 
three townships, Fort Osage on the east, Kaw on thc^ 
west, and lUue in the center. They also ordered that 
a plat of the county should be made, which was done 
and approved by the court at its June session. At the 
same session the following named persons were ap- 
pointed justices of the peace: Wm. J. Baugh, Jesse 
Lewis and Joel T. Walker for Fort Osage; Wm. 



Judge JAMES H. SLOVER 



JAMES H. SLOVER 
was born December 31, 1838, at Towanda, Pennsylvania. His 
parents were New Yorkers, the family originally coming from 
Holland. In 1848 his parents moved to Chicago, and in 1852 
to St. T.ouis, finally settling in Independence, Mo., in 1864. 
That year he entered the Union College of Law at Chicago. Hf 
graduated in June, 1866, passed his examination, and was ad- 
mitted to practice law in September, was elected justice of the 
oeace in November, and in December he married Miss Mary A. 
Howe. 

In 1868 he was elected mayor of Independence, and later was 
a member and treasurer of the School Board. As chairman of 
Jackson County Democratic Committee, for years he served his 
party faithfully and well, especially during the troublous timei 
after the Civil War. On account of his activity he was chosen 
as one of the tliree men to organize lodges of a State society 
to oppose the proscriptive "Drake Constitution," which was re- 
pealed in 1875. From 1875 to 1885 Judge Slover practiced law 
under the firm name of Comings & Slover, and later of Philips 
Comings & Slover, the firm ranking among the best in the 
West. In 1885 he was appointed judge of the Circuit Court of 
Jackson County, Division No. 2. In 1886 he was nominated by 
the Democratic party and elected. 1892 he was re-elected 
by a large majority and in 1898 he was elected for the third 
time. 

Judge Slover ranks as at least the equal of any jurist on 
the Missouri bench, in learning, purity of character and impar- 
tiality. As a man he is extremely gentle and courteous in man- 
ner and polished and entertaining in speech. 



11 




Judge EDWARD P. GATES. 



EDWARD PAYSON GATES, 

judge of the Circuit Court of Jacl;:son County, Division No. 3. 
v/as born at Lunnenburgh, Vtrmont, March 5, 1845. His fam- 
ily came to America in 1638, settling in Massachusetts. His 
forefathers were prominent among the pioneers of New 
England and later they were distinguished in the War of the 
Revolution. Judge Gates' father, George W. Gates, after serv- 
ing as United States marshal of Vermont moved with his fam- 
ily in 1850 to Port Byron, Rock Island County, Illinois. In 1865 
he moved to Independence, Missouri. In 1868 he was elected 
presiding judge of the County Court. In 1871 he was elected 
to the. State Legislature. Judge Gates received a common school 
education and graduated with high honors at Knox College. 
Galesburg, Illinois, in 1867. He entered the law office of 
Comings & Slover at Independence, and was admitted to the 
bar in 1868. In 1877 he. formed a partnership with William 
H. Wallace which lasted nearly twenty years. The firm had a 
large practice and gained great distinction. Judge Gates was the 
first County Counselor of Jackson County, and he was also City 
Attorney of Independence. In 1896 he was nominated by the 
Democratic party and elected judge of the Circuit Court of 
Jackson County. In 1886 he married Miss Pattie Field Embrey, 
daughter of William and Mary Embrey, of Richmond, Ky. In 
1902 he was a candidate for the Democratic nomination for the 
Supreme Court of Missouri, and, although defeated, he. was ad- 
mitted to have a larger following on account of his eminent fit- 
ness and personal popularity than any man in the race. Judge 
Gates is a man of great ability, polished in manner and speech, 
modest and unassuming, and extremely kind to young and 
struggling men. He is a past master Mason and a Knight of 
Pythias. He occupies the chair of common law pleadings in 
the Kansas City School of Law. 



13 



Yates, Lewis Jones, James Chambers and William 
Silvers for Blue; Samuel Johnson and Andrew P. Pat- 
terson for Kaw Township. 

The first session of the Circuit Court was held in 
Independence, March 29, 1827, and was presided over 
by Judge David Todd, of Howard County. The first 
clerk of the Circuit Court was Robert Wilson, of 
Howard County, but he was so unfavorably impressed 
with what he regarded as the roughness and uncul- 
tivated manners of the people that he resigned the 
position in disgust. He was succeeded by Samuel C. 
Owens, who held the office for many years. 

The first settlers of Jackson County were princi- 
pally from other parts of the State, but they were 
rapidly followed by many immigrants from Kentucky, 
Tennessee, Virginia and a scattering from other 
States. At the election held in the court-house at 
Independence, August 4, 1828, there were 231 votes 
cast for John Miller for Governor, In the fall of 
1834, however, a census was taken which showed that 
Independence contained a total of 250 inhabitants. 
Among these were: John O. Agnew, Solomon Flour- 
noy, Robert Rickman, William Lawrence, Leonard H. 
Renick, Henry Baker, Samuel C. Owens, John R. 
Swearingen, Russell Hicks, John W. Moodie, Reuben 
Wallace, Joseph H. Reynolds, Samuel Weston, Rob- 
ert Weston, John Lewis, Richard McCarty, Lewis 
Franklin, Allen Chandler, S. D. Lucas, Richard Fris- 
coe, John McCoy, William McCoy, Alexander Todd, 
Henry Ruby and Reuben Ruby. 

Part of the electoral returns from Jackson County 
at the presidential election on November 4, 1828, were 

14 



lost, but an interesting indication of the then political 
complexion of the county is afforded by the returns 
in Blue and Fort Osage townships. In the former, 
Andrew Jackson received 161 votes to 3 cast for his 
opponent Adams, AvMle Fort Osage Township gave 
Jackson 49 votes and John Quincy Adams none. 

The Santa F^ trade, which was enormously prof- 
itable, and which first gave Independence its im- 
portance, as its starting-point, was gradually trans- 
ferred to Westport within the next few years. West- 
port was laid out by John C. McCoy. Other early set- 
tleis were Robert Johnson, James McGee and sons, 
Jolin Harris, Jacob Ragan, William Matney, and 
Johnston Lykens. 

Lone Jack in the sontheastern part of the county, 
the next settlement, had for its pioneers, Warham 
Easley, Galen Cabe, John Snow, Stephen Easley and 
John Daniel. 

New Santa Fe in the southwestern corner of the 
county oil the direct route from Independence to 
Santa Fe, New Mexico, was first settled by John Bar- 
tleson, William Gray, John Wliitsett, Edward Gray, 
Richard Kirby, John Fltzhugh, George Fitzhugli, 
John B. Lucas, John Self and Linzey Lewis. 

Near Blue Springs lived the Smiths, Clarks, Bur- 
rises, Daileys, Judge R. D. Stanley and others. The 
first prairie land cultivated in Jackson County was 
broken by David Dailey near the east fork of the Lit- 
tle Blue. He used a "barshear plow," which consisted 
of a beam to which was fastened the coulter or 
^^shear," as it was called, to cut the tough sod with 
wooden mould-boards. When Mr. Dailey undertook 

15 



^ 




Ji:u.K J(JLi.\ \V. WOKFolM). 



JOHN W. WOFFORD, 

judge of the Criminal Court of Jacl<;son County, was born 
August 14, 1837, in the State of Georgia. He served in the 
House and Senate of Georgia and was presidential elector in 
1876. He fought iu the Confederate army from the beginning ti- 
the end of the war. He was appointed judge of the Jackson 
County Criminal Court in July 1892 by Governor Francis, and 
was elected to that position in November, 1892, and re-elected 
in 1898. Judge Wofford is one of the unique figures in Kansas 
City. He is like no one else. A just and inflexible judge, 
strict in his construction and enforcement of the law, feared 
and respected by attorneys, he is yet as tender hearted as a 
child and more like a father than a judge of criminals. He 
has inaugurated a system of paroling convicted criminals 
which puts them on their honor, releasing them during good 
behavior, w^hich has done more to reform them than all the 
prisons in Christendom could do. ^ 

Judge Wofiord is a most genial companion, an able jurist, 
and a loyal Democrat. 



17 



,TUPGE J. E. GUINOTTE, 



JULES EDGAR GUINOTTB 

was born at the Guinotte homestead, Fourth Stand Troost Ave., 
in Kansas City, Mo., August 20, 1855. After a course in the 
private schools of Kansas City he completed his education at 
the St. Louis University. On his return to Kansas City he en- 
gaged in clerical work for a time and then studied law in the 
office of Tichenor & Warner. In the practice of his profession 
he was not only remarkably successful but he also made warm 
friends of all who came in contact with him, and so, when he 
received the Democratic nomination for probate judge in 1886, 
he was elected by an overwhelming majority of Republican as 
well as Democratic votes. He was re-elected in 1890, in 1894, 
again in 1898, and this year he received the Democratic nomi- 
nation for the fifth time. And no wonder. The Probate Court 
under his administration is a model,with probably fewer losses 
through blunders of administrators and executors than in any 
similar court in the land. By his kindness and devotion to the 
interests of the widows and orphans whose property has passed 
through his hands he has endeared himself to all classes of the 
community. Judge Guinotte is as modest as a woman and, in 
his manners, as simple as a child. Withal, he is called by many, 
the biainiesi man in .Jackson County politics. 



19 



to cultivate or cross plow his field, the prairie sod 
collected in a huge pile in front of the plow, and he 
Avas compelled to abandon the work until the turf 
died and decayed. After awhile when he found that 
the sod would not mellow, he took his axe and cut 
holes in it, dropped his corn and covered it with an- 
other stroke of his axe. In this way he planted and 
raised a good crop the first year. Afterwards those 
who plowed the prairies, attached to the plow six or 
eight yoke of oxen and opened a much deeper and 
wider furrow than is customary nowadays. David 
Dailey was a man of iron constitution, the father of 
twenty-seven children, and he lived long and pros- 
pered greatly. 

Of such rugged stuff w^ere the pioneers of Jackson 
County, brave, hardy men, aud devoted, faithful 
women, a God-fearing law-abiding people. ^len, 
Avomeii and children worked incessantly, the men re- 
claiming the virgin wilderness, the women spinning, 
weaving and making the clothing and almost every- 
thing that was used about the home, and the children 
helping their parents in numberless ways. 

The settlers in those days mostly wen( to Inde- 
])endence and Westport for sup^dies. They usually 
lived in the timber and ate homiuy aud potatoes, fre- 
(piently having no bread. 



20 



CHAPTER II. 



Organization of Townships. 

Wluai Jackson (^iinty was first organized it was 
divided into three civil oi- ])olitical townships, as 
contradistinguished fi-oni tlic geogrjipliical townships, 
wliich are establislied by government surveys. These 
civil townships, already mentioned, wtn^e Fort Osage, 
Blue and Kaw. The boundaries of these townships 
Jiave undergone many and material changes since they 
were established in 1S2T. At that time Fort Osage 
contained its present territory, tog(4her with Sni-a- 
bar and Van Buren townships, and the whole east 
ern portion of Cass and Bates counties. 

Blue Township contained what is now Blue, Brook- 
ing, Prairie and part of Washington Township, and 
more than half of Cass and Bates counties. Kaw Town- 
ship contained its present dimensions — Westport and 
a part of ^Yashington. 

Before the first general election, in 1828, Harmony 
Township, named for the mission to the Indians, was 
formed from the south part of Fort Osage Township. 
It included about one-half of Bates County. This was 
done by the county couii; at its May term, 1828. 

The next township formed in May, 1830, w^as 
Boone. It too was carved out of Fort Osage Town- 
ship. Its boundaries were defined in the order of the 

21 



A. F. EVANS. 



ANDREW F. EVANS, 

Democratic nominee for Circuit Judge, is a native Kentuckian 
and was born in September, 1862. After a course in the public 
schools he graduated at Senter College, Danville, Ky., with the 
degrees of A.B. and A.M. He taught school two years, study- 
ing law meanwhile, and was admitted to the bar in 1884. He 
then took the law course at Harvard University and afterwards 
at the University of Virginia. In 1887 he came to Kansas City 
and has enjoyed a good practice ever since, being now senior 
member of the firm of Evans & Findley. In June, 1902 Mr. 
Evans received the Democratic nomination for Circuit Judge. 
He is a charter member of the Jackson County Democratic Club 
and has been a consistent and earnest supporter of the Demo- 
cratic party from his youth. Besides being a speaker of unusual 
ability Mr. Evans is a well-read lawyer with the judicial tem- 
perament which will eminently suit his work on the bench. 



23 




W. S. PONTIUS. 



WINFRED S. PONTIUS, 

f.horiff of Jackson County, was born December 15, 1859, in Ful- 
ton, Indiana. His family have been Americans for 150 years. 
He came to Kansas City 18 years ago and embarked in the grain 
business, in which he achieved a competency. Although taking 
a lively interest in politics he was in no sense a politician, much 
less an office-seeker, and his nomination for sheriff on the Re- 
pu])lican ticket in 1900 was a great surprise to him. He was 
elected, the first Republican sheriff in Jackson County since 
the State went Democratic after the war. 

Mr. Pontius has discharged the important and responsible 
duties of his office most admirably. He has especially won the 
praise of the bench and bar, the very men who have had the 
best opportunities to see and judge his work. He has kept poli- 
tics in the background, and his personal attention has been 
given to his office, with the result that his deputies have been 
diligent and faithful. To meet Sheriff Pontius one would never 
know whether he was a Democrat or a Republican. In meet- 
ing him outside of his office one only remembers that he is 
A whole-souled gentleman. Mr. Pontius was renominated for 
sheriff on the Republican ticket, September 20, 1902. 



25 



county court as follows: ^^Bef^inning east of the 
county line between townships No. 47 and 48, thence 
running due west until it intersects the line of Blue 
Township, thence south to the main channel of Grand 
River, thence down Grand River to the county line, 
thence north to the beginning." 

Sni-a-bar Township was detined and named May 5, 
1834. It also was carved out of Fort Osage Township 
as follows: ''Commencing on Little Blue Creek, at 
Benjamin Mayor's mill, on the upper road leading 
from Independence to Lexington, thence on a line 
with said road east to the line of Lafayette County, 
and that all that section of territory lying north of 
the aforesaid road, and within the boundaries of Fort 
Osage Township, be, and the- same is, hereby enacted 
into a separate township, to be known and designated 
by the name of Shne-bar (Shnee-a-bar, or Sni-a-bar) 
Township." On July 23, 1836, the fractional part of 
Boone Township, which still remained within the lim- 
its of Jackson County, after the organization of Van 
Buren — now Cass County, was attached to Sni-a-bar 
Township. 

Washington Township was formed largely from 
l^lue Township, February 0. 1830. Van Buren Town- 
ship was laid off by order of court, May 3, 1837. It 
was taken from Sni-a-bar Township. Prairie Town- 
ship was made up out of the west part of Van Buren 
Township June 4, 1800. Westport Township was es- 
tablished out of a part of Kaw Township May 17, 
1869. Brooking Township was organized by order of 
the county court March 13, 1872. It was formed out 
of portions of Washington and Blue townships. 

26 



CHAPTER HI. 



Political Episodes. 

From its organization to the present time, with 
few exeei)tions, Jackson County lias been overw^helm- 
ingly Democratic, so much so tliat there is little to 
chronicle except the almost unbroken succession of 
Democratic A'ictories. Three epochs stand out as land- 
marks in the political history of the county, and two 
of these perhaps should properly be regarded as so- 
cial rather than political. They were, the settlement 
vnnd expulsion of the Mormons in 1831 and 1833, the 
Civil Wai' in 1861-18G5, and the split in the Democratic 
party in 1900, which resulted in the election of the 
Republican county ticket in a county with a normal 
Democratic majority of 2,500. 

In 1831, Joseph Smith, the founder of the Mor- 
mon faith, came to Missouri looking for a location for 
his people, then in Kirthmd, Ohio, who had become 
so obnoxious to the citizens of that vicinity that they 
had been notified to leave. After prospecting in sev- 
eral counties he arrived at Independence in July of 
that year, and announced that a revelatiom to him 
from God fixed it as the "New Jerusalem," the seat 
of the new Mormon kingdom. Accordingly he and 
his disciples entered several thousand acres of land 
embraced in a tract west of Independence, extending 

27 




Judge G. L. CHRISMAN. 



GEORGE LEE CHRISMAN, 

presiding judge of the County Court of Jackson County, was 
born in Independence in 1851, and he has lived here all his life. 
His father was a celebrated lawyer, banker and successful 
busine&;s man. Judge Chrisman was educated in the Jackson 
County schools and devoted himself to farming and banking 
until, six years ago when he was elected as a Democrat, asso 
ciate judge of the County Court from the Eastern District. Ai 
the next election he was elected presiding judge of the same 
court. In June, 1902. he was renominated by the Democrat!', 
party for presiding judgt; by acclamation. He has devoted hi? 
attention since his elevation to ihe County Bench, to the expan , 
sion and improvement of the road system of Jackson County, 
and the results will be a monument to his energy and far- 
siglitedness for generations to come. Under his administration 
Jackson County has gained the proud eminence of having more 
miles 01 reck roads than any county in the United States. 
Judge Chrisman is a warm-hearted man and exceedingly loyal 
to his friends. He became favorably known throughout the 
State in 1900 by his candidacy for delegate-at-large to the Dem- 
ocratic National Convention, 



29 




11. S. STONE. 



ROBERT S. STONE, 

Democratic nominee for county collector, was born August 
12, 1857, at Independence, Mo. Receiving a common school 
education he moved on a farm when he was fourteen years 
old and lived there until 1885, when he removed to Indepen- 
dence and went into the grocery business. In 1889 he re- 
ceived an appointment as deputy sheriff under W. S. Sitlington 
and was reappointed as chief depuiy in 1893 by Sheriff O'Neill. 
In 1896 he was elected sheriff of Jackson County and was re- 
elected in 1898. Retiring from that office in 1900, Mr. Stone 
engaged in the real estate and insurance business in Kansas 
City. In June, 1902 he was nominated on the Democratic ticket 
foT collector of Jackson County. Mr. Stone's fourteen years of 
hard work on ;i farm laid the foundation for the fidelity and 
careful attention which he gave to the discharge of his public 
duties and qualified him for any office or position demanding 
honesty and patient industry for its proper conduct. Besides 
these; Mr. Stone has a well-earned reputation fcr fairness, just- 
ness, and kindness to the unfortunate and afflicted. He is a 
man of very winning personality and is justly considered one 
of the most popular men in Jackson County. 



31 




FRED. C. ADAMS. 



FRED C. ADAMS, 

Republican nominee fm re-election as collector of Jackson 
County, was born October 30, 1862, in Hartford County, Con- 
necticut. -His ancestry was purely American for 250 years. 
After receiving a sound education at his home he came West 
seeking his fortune and located in Kansas City twenty-one 
years ago. He engaged in the banking business and was cash- 
ier of the Kansas City State Bank when he was nominated by 
the Republican party and elected collector of Jackson County 
in November, 1900. He was renominated by acclamation in 
September, 1902. 

Mr. Adams is a quiet man, with great force of character 
and an equally great power of application to business. He has 
administered the office of county collector as a business man 
and not as a politician, and as a result has won the esteem ann 
approval of the people, irrespective of politics. If any Repub- 
lican can be elected in a county having a Democratic majority 
of 2,500, ho can. Personally Mr. Adams is one of the kindest or 
men, modest, genial and unassuming, faithful to his friends 
and faithful to his duty. 



33 



twelve miles south from the Missouri River and 
twelve miles west to the State line. Another revela- 
tion assured him that the site of the great temple, in 
imitation of King Solomon's temple, was about .300 
yards west of the court-house at Independence, and 
on August 3, 1831, the spot was dedicated to that 
purpose, Joseph Smith declaring it to be ''the Zion 
that should never be moved/' and that the whole land 
was "solemnly dedicated to the Lord and ITis saints." 

A weekly news{)aper, called Tlic Hforniiu/ and Even- 
ing Star, w^as established at Independence as the offi- 
cial organ of the Moruion Church, and eacii week it 
was filled with "revelatious*' predicting blessings for 
the Church and woes innumerable for the Gentiles. 
Their followers poured in rapidly and at a general 
conference held that year Smith revealed that the 
whole land should be theirs "by purchase or by blood.'' 
Emissaries were sent among the Indians inviting 
them to join the Moimon Chui'ch, and « laiming thiMn 
as the lost tribes of Israel. The elders of the ChuiM-h 
claimed to hold intercourse with God and His angels, 
to heal the sick by laying on the hands, to raise the dead, 
to walk on water, and, in short, to perform uiiracles 
of all kinds. At their meetings men, women and chil 
dren spoke in unknown tongues — the Gentiles called 
it gibberish — claiming that they w^ere inspired. 

The Mormon colony grew rapidly and in the spring 
of 1833 numbered 1,500 souls. By this time the Chris- 
tian settlers had become alarmed and aroused over 
the incendiary teachings and arrogant acts of the 
Mormons who preached and wrote in their newspaper 
declaring that the land was given to them as a spoil, 

34 



and that no Oentile should inhabit it. Resentment 
against fhem grew that summer when abolitionist 
articles were printed on ''Free People of Color," in- 
tended to incite the negroes to revolt against slavery, 
and the climax of indignation was reached when the 
Mormons prepared to place a ticket for the county 
offices in the field. 

On July 20, 1833, an anti-Mormon mass-meeting was 
held at Independence with Colonel Richard Simpson 
as chairman, and James IT. Flournoy and Colonel 
Samuel D. Lucas, secretaries. Resolutions were 
adopted declaring that "in future no Mormon shall 
settle in this county." That ''those now here, who 
shall give a definite pledge of their intention, within 
a reasonable time, to move out of the county, shall be 
allowed to remain unmolested until they shall have 
time to sell their property and close their business 
without material sacrifice." The 8ia7' was ordered to 
be discontinued forthwith. 

These resolutions were drafted by a committee con- 
sisting of Russell Hicks, Robert Johnson, Henry 
Chiles, TJiomas Hudspeth, Joel F. Chiles, James M. 
Hunter and Colonel James Hambriglet. 

A committee appointed to present the resolutions 
to the Mormoin leaders reported that the latter would 
not give any answer until they had communicated 
with Joseph Smith, who was at Kirtland, O. It was 
then resolved that the Star office should be immedi- 
ately destroyed, which was done and the printing 1^ 
materials thrown into the Missouri River. Bishop 
Partridge and Storekeeper Allen, the Mormon lead- 
ers, who had demanded a delay, were stripped naked, 

35 




HAKKY G. HENLEY. 



HARRY HENLEY 

was born in Inflepcndence, Jackson County, ^lissouri, a little 
over tlilrty years ago. Inheriting indomitable pluck and cour- 
age from his father and mother, the former of whom was boin 
in Kentucky, and the latter in Missouri, he has surmounted 
many obstacles and sreadlly risen. He belongs to that type oi 
men who are self-made. As a mere boy he started in to earn 
what he could. Working at whatever presented itself, he sold 
newspapers, worked in a woolen mill, blacksmith shop, paintcfl 
and finally became an expert turner. 

Studying of nights he acquired such an education as made 
him amply qualified and competent to hold the responsible 
position of division clerk of the Independence Division of the 
Circuit Couri. Still studying of nights he graduated from the 
Kansas City School of Law and has been licens(^d to practice in 
the s(^veial courts of the State. 

He has ever been an active and energetic man, filling his 
ofaeial position v/ith credit to himself and the office. In ad- 
dition he has found time to take an active interest in religion 
and politics. He takes an interest in all civic and public af- 
fairs and is a member of th^ Knights of Pythias and Woodmen. 
Recently the Democratic party in convention assembled, 
recognizing his especial fitness. and qualifications for the office 
g.Hve him the nomination for clerk of the Circuit Court, This 
is the principalship of the office in which he has been a deputy 
until he recently resigned. 

Although young, Harry Henley is recognized throughout 
the community in which he lives as a solid and substantial 
man. 



37 




Dr. CHARLES H. LESTER. 



DR. CHARLES H. LESTER. 

Dr. Le-ster was born May 10, 1857, in Kansas City, Mo., 
where he has lived all his life. His parentage is English and 
Scotch, although his forefathers have lived in America for 
several generations. Dr Lester is a tall, strong man. strong 
mentally and physically, with the gentle, kindly manners that 
are derived partly from his great strength and partly through 
his training as a physician in ministering to the weak and 
alliictod. He is regarded as one of the ablest physicians in 
Kansas City and enjoys a large private practice. Dr. Lester 
held the office of coroner of Jackson County from 1898 to 1900. 
and was only defeated for re-election by the split in the Demo- 
cratic party in Jackson County in 1900. He is the Democratic 
nominee for coroner on tho County ticket this fall. 



89 




JAMES L. PHELPS. 



JAMES L. PHELPS, 

D;^:mociatic nominee lor county clerk, was born January 1, 1855, 
at Ottawa. Illinois. He comes of good, old Democratic stock 
his mother being a Kentuckian. and his father a Virginiaa. 
who cast his first vote for Andrew Jackson. 

Mr. Phelps graduntcd from the Ottawa High Schools in 
^871, and 1878 he was admitted to the bar before the Supreme 
Court of Illinois. Removing to Arkansas his health failed two 
years after, and he changed his residence to Atchison, Kansas. 
Four years later he came to Independence, Missouri, whrre h? 
has lived ever since. In 1889 Mr. Phelps was appointed marshal 
of the Kansas City Court of Appeals. In 1895 he was appointed 
chief deputy county clerk by T. T. Crittenden, Jr., which posi- 
tion he has held over since. 

In 1893 Mr. Phelps married, at Independence, Miss Nellie 
Gregg, the daughter of Samuel and Maria Bryant Gregg. The 
Gregg and Bryant families moved to Jackson County from 
Kentucky fifty-five yt^ars ago. 

Prior to his nomination for county clerk this year. Mr. 
Phelps has never been a candidate for office although he has 
always voted the Democratic ticket and has always worked 
earnestly and faithfully for the success of his party. Mr. 
Phelps' record s(>cially, in business life, and in the appointive 
ofPces he has held is above renroach. 



41 



tarred and feathered and ordered to leave the coun- 
try at once. On July 23, several hundred citizens as- 
sembled for the purpose of expelling the Mormons by 
force. The Mormons were prettj^ thoroughly cowed 
and they agreed to leave by the following April. 

In the meantime they appealed for protection to 
Governor Dunklin, who, upon the advice of Attorney- 
General R. W. Wells, advised them to stay and ap- 
peal to the courts for redress. Legal action was com- 
menced against the ring-leaders of the anti-Mormon 
mob and eminent lawj^ers were employed to pi'ose- 
cute them. 

On October ?>0 the citizens were again assembled 
in arms and commenced the woi'k of removing the 
Mormons by foi-ce. Ten Mormon hous(^s on the Big 
Blue, five at AVestport and numbers at other points 
were burned and their inliabitants driven away. 
At the Whitmer SettUunent two miles southeast of 
Kansas City, Mormons resisted and several citizens 
were killed or wounded. Tlie militia were called out, 
but refused to pi'otect the ^lormons. On November 
7, the thoroughly frightened ^lormons began cross- 
ing tlie Missouri Kivor into day County. This ended 
the ^rorinon oc'cu])ation as a body of tlie "Now Jorusa 
lem," Jackson County. 

^Vithin the next twelve months their leaders ap- 
pealed to the Governor-, State Legislature, and the 
courts of Missouri, as well as to the President of the 
United States, to reinstate them in their homes, but 
their efforts proved fruitless. The seized Mormon 
lands were paid for, but no Mormon was allowed to 
set foot in Jackson County. 

42 



The Mormon settlements in Kay, Carroll, Cald- 
well and Daviess counties led to the "Mormon war" 
a few years later, which resulted in the Mormons be- 
ing driven from the State. 

There is now in Jackson County a body of Mor- 
mons calling themselves, "Latter Day Saints." They 
are a branch of the lieorganized Church of Jesus 
Christ of Latter Day Saints, of which Joseph Smith, 
Jr., eldest son of Joseph Smith, was the president. 
The headquarters of this Church is at Piano, Kendall 
County, Illinois. This Church has over 400 congre- 
gations in the principal cities of the country. They 
are opposed to polygamy and keep missionaries active- 
ly at work in Utah, seeking to convert the Brigham 
Young Mormons from that doctrine. 



43 




O. H. GENTRY, Jr. 



O. H. GENTRY, JR.. 

Dpraocratic candidate for treasurer of Jackson County, was 
horn May 9, 1859, in Jackson County, Mo., and has lived here 
all his life. He was raised on a farnri until he was 18 when he 
entered upon the drug business, in the employ of J. C. Pendle- 
ton, of whom ho is now a partner, at. Independence, Mo. 

Mr. Gentry was nominated for treasurer of Jackson County 
on the Democratic ticket in 1900, but went down to defeat with 
the rest of the ticket on account of the split in the party tha: 
year. He was renominated for the same office in June, 1902. 

Mr. Gentry has never been a factional man in the troubles 
that have existed in his party in Jackson County. It is no 
flattery to say that he enjoys the respect and esteem of men 
of all factions and parties. He is a man of winning personality, 
with a rare faculty for making friends of everyone he meets. 
His strongest claim upon the regard of those who know him 
is his devotion to his family, including his mother, whom he 
has cared for since his father's death when he was only five 
years old. Mr. Gentry married Miss Emma Robinson of May- 
view. Jackson County, and has three lovely children. 



45 




T. J. PENDERGAST. 



THOMAS J. PENDERGAST, 

Democratic nominee for marshal of Jackson County, was born 
.Tiilj' 22, 1872, at St. Joseph, Mo. After receiving an education 
at his native town Mr. Pendergast removed to Kansas City in 
1890 and was associated in business with his brother, James 
Pendergast, until he received an appointment as deputy county 
marshal. Upon Mayor Reed's election he was appointed super- 
intendent of streets for Kansas City, and he has retained that 
position ever since. The position has been a difficult and thank- 
loss one, owing to the lack of sufficient funds to do the work, 
but Mr. Pendergast's record has been highly satisfactory, es- 
pecially to the business men of Kansas City. He has given 
his entire time and attention to the work, and his figure is a 
familiar one on the streets, standing in a snow storm in 
Avinter, or in the broiling sun of summer, superintending the 
work of his men. As deputy county marshal he became fa- 
miliar with the duties cf the office and his election will find 
him a thoroughly qualified official. 



47 




CHAULES V. RENICK. 



CHARLES V. RENICK. 

clerk of the Criminal Court of Jackson County, an<l Democratic 
nominee for re-election, was born May 5, 1867, in Jackson 
County, Mo. His father, John T. Renick, was born in Indepen- 
dence in 1832, and his grandparents came to Lafayette County 
from Kentucky in 1818. His early school life was spent in Jack- 
son County and after a two years' course at Odessa College, 
Mo., in 1887 he entered the employ of A. J. Bundschu, th(^ dry 
goods merchant, at Independence. In 1890 he went as travel- 
ing salesman for Burnham, Hanna & Munger, and afterwards 
worked in the same capacity for Swofford Bros. In 1895 he 
went into the general mercantile business for himself at Oak 
Grove, Mo. In 1899 he was elected on the Democratic ticket 
as cl( rk of the Criminal Court and in June, 1902, he was renom- 
inated by acclamation. He was married December 25, 1900, to 
Miss Almeda K. Humphrey, daughter of Dr. Willis P. King. 

Mr. Renick was a charter member of the Jackson County 
Democratic Club and has been an active worker at every elec- 
tion for his party's success. He is one of the best known men 
in Jackson County and is extremely popular. His record as 
criminal clerk has been without a blemish and his re-election 
will be a well-deserved endorsement by the people who have 
known him all his life. 



49 



CHAPTER lY. 



Jackson County During the Civil War. 

No part of the country was the scene of ttercei 
fighting during the Civil War than Jaclvson County. 
For several years prior to the war Jackson County 
was the storm center of the border troubles which 
arose between Kansas and Missouri over the slaver \ 
(juestion. Nuiikmous acts of violence and bloodshea 
were coniniitted on both sides, and the seeds were 
sown which bore fruit in the terrible guerrilla war- 
fare which arrayed families and neighbors againsi 
each other throughout the war. 

A large majoi-ity of the citizens of the county were 
Southern sympathizers, but the Federal authorities 
sent troops and took possession of Kansas City and 
Independeiice at an early date, and from that time 
the struggle raged for possession of the county. 
Quantrell and his men held ]K)ssessi(m of the fast- 
nesses of the county and although the roads swarmed 
with Cnion soldiers, they were never able to oust him. 
Men were sliot down on the public highways and 
hanged on the ]Mibli<' squai'es, without trial or cause; 
skirmislies were of daily and iiighlly occurrence and 
desperate battles were fought at various times over 
almost every inch of ground in the county. On the 
Big and Little Blue rivei-s. Hock Creek, at Independ- 

50 



(Mice, Lone Jack, Westport and otliei' points, bloody 
battles were fought, and by the wayside, lonely roads, 
farm hous( s, homes, and even chnrches were bathed 
in blood as Confederate scout and Unioiu Jayhawkei* 
settled accounts with each other. 

During this period thij Confederates were generally 
victorious' on the battle-field, while the Union side 
prevailed at the elections. Kansas City was a Union 
town from the beginning of the war, and the county 
had little opportunity for a free expression of opinion. 
After the war the Southern men were disfranchised 
until the repeal of the infamous Drake Constitution, 
which was only accomplished after long and persist- 
ent efforts on the ]>art of the Southerners. In these 
post-bellum }K)litical struggles Judge James H. Slover 
and others took the lead, and, when other means 
failed, they formed secret societies in which to agitate 
and form ])lans for the accoujplislnnent of their ob- 
ject, to place all citizens on an equal footing before 
the law. As soon as this was done Jackson County 
again became safely Denu)cratic and remained so for 
thirty years, until the disasti-ous si)lit in the fall of 
lOOO. 



51 




Cql, JO&EPH W, MEKCliJK, 



COLONEL JOSEPH W. MERCER 

was born February 25, 1845, in Platte City, Mo., but he has re- 
sided in Jackson County for a period of fifty years. His life 
has been eventful and successful, both in politics and in busi- 
ness. He has be^'n a member of the City Council and mayor 
of Independence, treasurer of Jackson County in 1872 and 1873, 
and was elected treasurer of the State of Missouri in 1874. In 
business life Colonel Mercer has for twenty years been inter- 
ested in the Kansas City Wholesale Grocery Company, of 
which he is now vice-president. He is also vice-president of 
the First National Bank of Independence and president of the 
Mize Hardware Company. Colonel Mercer entered the Con- 
federate Army at the age of 16, and fought four years until the 
surrender. He was wounded at the battles of Lexington and 
Pea Ridge, and lost an arm at Pine Bluff. He came out of the 
Army penniless and taught school near Independence, Mo. He 
married Miss Laura Green of Jackson County in 1870, and has 
four children living. Colonel Mercer is an Elk, Odd-fellow, 
and Knight of Pythias. 

In June, 1902, he v/as nominated for county judge of the 
Eastern District of Jackson County on the Democratic ticket. 



53 




JAMES A. REED. 



JAMES A. REED, 

mayor of Kansas City, was born on a farm in Richmond 
County, Ohio, Novombor 9, 1861. When he was three years 
old his parents moved to a farm near Cdar Rapids, Iowa, and 
when he was eight his father died, leaving to him the care of 
his mother and young brothers. He worked on the farm in 
the day and studied at night until he was able to attend Coe 
College at Cedar Rapids, where he won the State Oratorial Con- 
test for his alma mater. In 1882 he began the study of law and 
in 1885 was admitted to the bar. After serving as chairman of 
his Democratic County Committee and winning a reputation as 
a stump speaker, he came to Kansas City in 1888. His debut in 
politics here was as candidate for the Democratic nomination 
for prosecuting attorney, which he lost, and then he stumped 
the county in a remarkable campaign making more speeches 
for his successful rival than he did for himself. In 1896 he 
became county counselor and won every case that came to 
trial. In 1898 he was elected prosecuting attorney of Jackson 
County and in the next two years his name became a terror 
to evil doers. Out of 242 cases he lost but one, and there were 
only two mi'strials. 

In 1900 the Democrats of Kansas City, who had been in a 
minority for years, centered on the brilliant young prosecuting 
attorney to lead their forlorn hope. He accepted the call of 
his party, resigned his far more profitable office, made a whirl- 
wind campaign which fairly swept the opposition off its feet, 
and was elected mayor by over 2,000 majority. Then began his 
memorable struggle to compel the public corporations to pay 
their just share of the burdens of the city and to fulfill their 
long-ignored obligations to the people. With a City Council 
against him. and fighting almost singly and alone, Mayor Reed 
effected reforms which saved the city over a million of dollars 
and brought the corporations to their knees. In 1902 he was re- 
nominated and elected mayor after a bitter fight in which cor- 
i)f;ration money was lavishly used against him. He is probably 
the most effective campaigner in Missouri, and with his abso- 
lute honesty, fearless courage and devotion to the people's in- 
terests the future undoubtedly has higher honors in store for 
him. 

55 




J. G. L. HARVEY 



JACQUE G. L. HARVEY 

was born January 26, 1875, in Saline County, Mo. Twel^ne years 
ago he came to Kansas City and entered the law office of James 
A. Reed as office boy and subsequently as stenographer. When 
Mr. Reed was elected mayor of Kansas City in April, 1900, he 
selected Mr. Harvey as his private secretary, a post he has 
held ever since. In June, 1900, Mr. Harvey graduated from 
the Kansas City Law School with the highest honors of his 
class. He has discharged the delicate and difficult duties of 
his position as secretary to the mayor with conspicuous ability, 
and an enthusiastic loyalty to the interests of his chief that 
seems to characterize his every act where the interests of his 
friends are at stake. 



57 



CHAPTER Y. 



TiiK Dkiniocrat Spi.it IX 1900. 

But ]il11(^ cnii be said Avilliiii I lie limits of this 
work, ns to tho niciits or details of the controversy 
whk'li led to the split in the Democratic party in 
Jackson County in the fall of 1!)()0. The trouble may 
be said to have originated in Kansas City, where Ihe 
^ Democratic party had split in the city election in 1804, 
and thereafter had been divided into two factions who 
hated each other worse than they did their common 
enemy, the Republicans. Th(^ bitterness between these 
factions gradually extended into the county, and cul- 
minated in August, 1000, when two Democratic county 
conventions were held simultaneously under the same 
tent in Independc^iice, two Democratic county tickets 
were nominated, and two Democratic county commit- 
tees were selected. 

All efforts to effect a compromise having failed, 
the services of the Democratic State Central Commit- 
tee were invoked and a committee from thai body 
came to Kansas City and s]kmiI scNcral days trying lo 
heal the breach. After hearing llu' case as presenti^d 
by both sides, the committee decided io order a mnv 
])rimary and convention, whicli was held at Independ- 
ence the following month, and a new Democratic ticket 
was nominated. The Shannon faction, as it was called, 

58 



denied the authority of the State Comiiiitloo to inter- 
fere, refused to take part in the new prinxaries, and 
afterwards kept its ticket in the field. The eontroA^ersv 
was finally brouj-ht before the Supreme Court, which 
decided in favor of the Shannon faction's ticket. Thih 
decision, whicli was based on a ]e.i»al technicality and 
did not enter into the merits of tlie case, was repudi- 
ated by the Democrats at the polls in the general elec- 
tion in November, and, aliliough W. S. Cowherd, Dem- 
oci-atic nominee for Congress, carried the county bv 
a large majority, tlie entire Kepublican county tickel 
was el(Mtcd by ecpially large majorities. 

Since tlicn the opposing Democratic factions ap- 
])eai' to have leai-ned and digested tlu^ bitter h'sson of 
defeat. In the sjjring of 1902, in Kansas City, most of 
the leaders of both factions gave hearty su])]»oi't to 
^layor James A. Reed in his splendid cami)aign for 
re-election, and those who did not, sulked in their 
tents, but essayed no open warfare. After ^layor 
Reed's election these latter found that they were in 
danger of losing their political prestige and they, too, 
hastened to get in the regular Democratic band-wagon 
rather than be run over and crushed. New align- 
UKMits, based on fresh issues, and the advent of ncnv 
leaders, were made and the solidarity of the two fac- 
tions was considerably shakc^n. At all ev(Mits, harnr 
ou}^ prevailed at the cMisuiug county primaries and the 
county conv(^ntion held in June at Independence nom 
inated a ticket which represented the extreme ele 
ments of both factions. The personnel of the ticket is 
without exception excellent and under ordinary cir- 
cumstances its election would be a foregone conclu- 

59 




H. C. BUADY 



HUGH C. BRADY 

was born in 1870, in Kansas City, Mo., of Irish parentag-?. He 
attended school at the St. Francis Institute. Osage Mission, 
Kansas, and worked at the printing trade for twelve years, 
studying law while setting type on the Kansas City Journal. 
In 1894 he entered the law office of Frank P. Walsh who took 
a warm interest in the modest, hardworking boy, and who has 
been his warm friend ever since. In 1896 young Brady was ad- 
mitted to the bar, and retained his office; with Mr. Walsh. In 
1900 Mr. Brady, although not a candidate, came within a few 
votes of being nominated for police judge of Kansas City, and 
in 1902 receiving the nomination he led the Democratic ticket 
and was elected by over 3,000 majority. A short and simple 
history, but full of hard work and self-denial, of energy and 
pluck in the face of apparently insurmountable obstacles. With 
such an earnest as a beginning who shall place a limitation on 
what the fruition may be at last? 

Mr. Brady is himself respected for his sound sense and 
popular because of his manliness, but his chief title to the 
esteem of his ft How men is his devotion to his friend and guide, 
FYank Walsh. His speech at St. Joseph, nominating Mr. Walsh 
for State committeeman, was a model of terseness and manly 
eloquence, but it was no less a credit to the subject, than to 
the speaker in the feeling he displayed. 



61 




JOHN P. LYNCH. 



JOHN P. LYNCH 

was born November 7, 1862, in Kansas City, Mo. He lias lived 
all his life in the sixth ward, where he is the unquestioned 
Democratic leader. Mr. Lynch has the manner and tastes of a 
business man, rather than a politician, and he has made a 
g:reat success in the lime and cement business. But when he 
was elected to the lower house of the City Council in 1900 he 
was quickly recognized as a lead(>r by his associates, who 
elected him speaker of the house. In 1902 he was re-elected 
to the Council and again chosen as speaker. As a man and as 
a politician, Mr. Lynch's distinguishing characteristic is his 
rugged honesty and absolute incorruptibility. Blunt and 
straightforward in manner and speech, no piece of extrava- 
gance, or suspicion of jobbery has escaped his watchful eye 
as speaker of the lower house, and he has shown the courage 
of his convictions by coming down on the floor and opposing 
measures that he considered harmful to the city's interests, 
whether they were fathered by political friend or foe. And 
yet he is so fair and impartial in his rulings, and so free from 
reproach in his personal conduct, that he commands the respect 
and esteem of all his political associates, as well as of the peo- 
ple of Kansas City. 

Speaker Lynch has often acted as mayor during Mayor 
Reed's absence from the city, and has fllled th(^ position with 
such dignity and tact that many persons have come to regard 
him as a logical and worthy successor to Mayor Reed. 



63 




A. E. GALLAGHER. 



ANDREW E. GALLAGHER 

was born March 29, 1860, at Oswego, New York. Twenty years 
ago he came to Kansas City and embarked in the real estate 
business. Taking an active interest in politics, as a Democrat, 
but never a candidate for office, he soon became a leader in 
his ward, and a prominent figure in his party's councils and 
conventions. In the spring of 1902, Mr. Gallagher was appointed 
city comptroller by Mayor Reed and was confirmed by the Cit.y 
Council as a man who was -icceptable to Democrats and Repub- 
licans alike. In June, 1902, Mr. Gallagher was elected chairman 
of the Democratic County Committee, a rare compliment to his 
integrity and political acumen in view of the existing condi- 
tions in Jackson County politics. The best testimonial, how- 
ever, to Mr. Gallagher's character is the fact that he is best 
liked where he is best known, among his own neighbors. 



65 



sion. On the other haud, tlie Republican county offi- 
cials have given the people an eilicient, non-partisan 
and economical administration, and these officials are 
confidently asking the jjeople to endorse their good 
work. Moreover, it is the history of politics that 
when a bolt has once occurred in a party, at least a 
residuum of the bolters never return to their party's 
camp. Party ties are weakened and party dicipline is 
destroyed. Whatever the outcome, although almost 
certainly Democratic, it is safe to say that Democratic 
majorities will never again be as certain in Jackson 
County as they have been in the past. 

And yet, the Republican party in Jackson County 
is hardly in a condition to profit by the dissensions 
that have left their marks on their political oppo- 
nents. It, too, is split into factions, local and State, 
which, although not proceeding to the extreme of 
putting up rival Republican tickets, still are carried 
away by the bitter undercurrents of jealousy, selfish 
ness and personal enmities. Owing to their inability 
to obtain a share of the spoils of office the 4,000 negro 
voters of Kansas City threatened to bolt the Republi 
can party, and many a white brother who lacks the 
conrage to threaten, carries a knife in his boot and 
will insert it on occasion where it will do the most 
good. Personally, the Republican leaders, and, indeed, 
the rank and file of Jackson County are among the 
purest and ablest men in the county, but their party is 
handicapped by the same causes that prevail through 
out Missouri in making it a minority party. 



66 



CHAPTER VI. 



Count y_^Offi ci a ls . 

Following is the list of officials of Jackson Countj 
from its organization to the present time: 

Judges of the County Court. 

1827. — Henry Biirris, Abraham McClelland, Rich- 
ard Fristoe. August, 1829, Samuel Weston. 

1831. — Richard Fristoe, Lewis Jones, Samuel D. 
Lucas. August 7, 1832, Richard B. Chiles; February, 
13, 1833, John Smith. 

1831. — Moses G. Wilson, Lawrence Flournoy, Dan- 
iel P. Lewis. 

1838. — John Fnivis, Lawrence Flournoy, Jno. Smith. 

1842. — James B. Yager, Alvin Brooking, Richard 
Stanley. 1814, Ricliard Fristoe; 1846, James Smart. 

1846. — Alvin Brooking, Richard D. Stanley, Jami^s 
Gray. 1848, Walter Bales. 

1850.— Richard D. Stanley, \\ alter Bales, Richard 
Still. 

1854. — Richard D. Stanley, James Porter, James B. 
Yager. 

1858. — Richard D. Stanley, Jamies McClelland, 
Thomas A. Smart. 

1862. — Jacob Leader, Nathaniel H. Scruggs, Oscar 
H. Cogswell. 1864, Lucius Carey, 

67 




BAXTER BKOWX, 



BAXTER BROWN 

was born on a farm in Johnson County, Mo., about forty-three 
years ago. He was educated in the common schools of that 
ccuniy and .at McGee College in Macon County, Mo. After leav- 
ing school when a mere boy he was appointed clerk of the Pro- 
bate Court of Johnson County, which position he held for two 
years, resigning to engage in the drug business at Warrens- 
burg, Mo., which he followed for a number of years. He was 
elected assistant secretary of the Missouri Senate at its Revis- 
ing session in 1889. At the same session of the legislature the 
Missouri grain inspection law was enacted largely through his 
efforts, and at the close of the session he was appointed, by 
Chief Grain Inspector Jasper N. Burks, chief clerk of the Kan- 
sas City department, holding that position until 1892. 

When the Cherokee Strip was opened for settlement in 
in 1893, Mr. Brown made the run into the new country, 
settling at Newkirk, the county seat of Kay County, Okla- 
homa, engaging in the grain business at that place. With- 
in a month after his arrival in Oklahoma he was elected 
chairman of the Democratic County Central Committee, and 
appointed by Governor Renfro chairman of the board of coun- 
ty commissioners of Kay County, which position he held until 
swept out of office by the Republican landslide of 1894. 
Returning to Missouri in January, 1895. he bought a ha'f 
interest in the Johnson County Daily and Weekly Star, which 
paper he edited for one year strenuously advocating the ne- 
cessity of holding the famous Pertle Springs convention, and 
v/as largely instrumental in having the convention held at that 
place, within one and a half miles of his town. In December, 
1S95, he sold his interest in the paper and came to Kansas City, 
where he has since resided. He was chief clerk of the board of 
election commissioners during the campaign in which James A. 
Reed was first elected mayor, and was a candidaie for the nomi- 
nation for railroad commissioner before the State convention 
held in Kansas City in June, 1900. He was appointed secretary 
of the board of public works in May of this year. Mr, Brown 
is a member of Orient Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of 
Kansas City, and a charter member of the Jackson County 
Democratic Club. He has been active in City and State poli- 
tics for years, and is said to have the distinction of knowing 
more Missouri Democrats than any man in the State. 

69 




O. G. YOUNG. 



O. G. YOUNG 

\va^ born January 2(», 1858. in Ray County. Mo. His parent ^ 
had moved to Missouri from Kentucky a few years before. 
When barely twenty-one he was elected mayor of Carrollton. 
Mc, and his administration was so satisfactory to the people 
that, at the close of his term, he was re-elected, an honor that 
had never been bestowed on any other mayor of that town. He 
"v^as a delegate to the National Democratic Convention at St. 
Loui&= in 1888. In 1889 he came to Kansas City, seeking a wider 
field for the practice of his profession as a lawyer. He took 
an active part in politics in his new home, and in 1890 wa^ 
elected to the State Senate from the Fifth Senatorial district. 
Senator Young is a Democrat who never took much part in the 
factional controversies which have divided the Democratic 
party in Jackson County in rtcent years, and he was one of the 
first men to give his active support to the Jackson County 
Democratic Club when that organization was effected in 1900 
in view of promoting harmony in the party. Senator Young 
is a speaker of unusual ability and as a lawyer he stands high 
in his profession, enjoying a lucrative practice. 



71 




CHARLES H. CLARK. 



CHARLES H. CLARK. 

Mr. Clark was born in 1866 in Mercer County, Pennsylvania, 
the same county that gave a birthplace to Senator Clark of 
Montana. He does not claim relationship with his noted name- 
sake, but he is proud of the fact that his people have been for 
.srenerations honest, loyal, hardworking Americans. When a 
poor boy of 16, young Clark came to Kansas City, and obtained 
employment with William Huttig in the lumber business. Af- 
ter eight years of hard work he was appointed a member of the 
Kansas City Fire Department, where he remained until his 
recent appointment as deputy license inspector for Kansas City. 

As a fireman Charley Clark made a record for bravery, cooU 
nfss and devotion to duty, which commanded the highest ap- 
proval of Chief Trickett. How his comrades regarded him is 
illustrated by the fact that he is the first man, outside of a 
chief of the department, who was ever elected president of 
the Martin's Fireman's Relief Association. 

In politics Mr. Clark has done yeoman service for the 
Democratic party. He has been for several years chairman of 
the second ward delegation in conventions, where his ready 
wit and cool judgment m:ade his services particularly valua- 
ble. The manly qualities that served him so well as a work 
ingman and as a fireman, are sure to stand him in good stead 
in advancing his political fortunes. 



73 



1865.— M. T. Graham, Jas. D. Allen, A. G. Newgent. 

1866. — A. G. Newgent, M. T. Graham, Jacob Leader. 

1867. — G. W. Gates, Lucius Carey, Joshua Petty. 

1869. — Jas. B. Yager, Lucius Carey, Joshua Petty. 

1871. — Jas. B. Yager, Lucius Carey, Joshua Petty. 

1873. — Jas. B. Yager, Lucius Carey, Luther Mason. 
May 6, 1873, A. L. Harris, W. R. Bernard. 

1875. — A. G. Williams, Jas. B. Yager, A. M. Allen, 
T. H. Brougham, Thomas McNamara. 

1877. — Josiah Collins, Jas. B. Yager, A. M. Allen, 
T. H. Brougham, Thomas McNamara. August, 1877, 
W. E. Hall, Josiah Collins, Jas. B. Yager. 

1879.— Jas. B. Yager, D. A. Frink, Charles E. 
Strode. 

1881. — Jas. B. Yager, W. O. Shouse, Charles E. 
Strode. 

1882.— R. S. Adkins, F. R. Allen, J. P. Jones. 

1884.— R. S. Adkins, W. F. Chiles, Hugh Lynch. 

1886.— J. A. McDonald, Hugh Lynch, Wm. Chiles. 

1888.— J. A. McDonald, John N. Smith, S. W. 
Hudson. 

1890.— Daniel Murphy, S. W. Hudson, P. J. Henn. 

1892. — Daniel Murphy, P. J. Henn, James Latimer. 

1894. — John B. Stone, James Latimer. 

1896. — John B. Stone, James Latimer, John N. 
Smith. 

1898.— G. L. Chrisman, S. L. Luttrell, E. R. Hunter. 

1900.— G. L. Chrisman, S. L. Luttrell, John M. 
Surface. 



74 



(Jounty Clerks. 

1827. — L. W. Boggs, circuit and couuty clerk, and 
ex-ofjicio recorder. 

1828, — Samuel C. Owens, circuit and county clerk, 
and ex-officio recorder. 

1842. — Samuel D. Lucas, circuit and county clerk, 
and ex-officio recorder. 

1848. — John E. Swearinger, county clerk. 

1867. — Ezra R. Hickman, county clerk. 

1882.— M. S. Burr. 1886, M. S. Burr. 1890, M. S. 
Burr. 1892, M. S. Burr. 1894, T. T. Crittenden, Jr. 
1898, T. H. Crittenden, Jr. 

Circuit Clerics. 

1848. — Samuel D. Lucas, circuit clerk and ex-officio 
recorder. 

1865. — W. C. Ransom, circuit clerk and ex-officio 
recorder. 

1867. — Reuben Wallace, circuit clerk. 

1871.— Wallace Laws, circuit clerk. 1882, L. F. 
McCoy. 1886, L. F. McCoy. 1890, Hinton H. Noland. 
1894, Henry M. Stonestreet. 1898, Henry M Stone- 
street. 

Becorder. 

1867.— A. Comings. 1871, Charles D. Lucas. 1882, 
C. D. Lucas. 1886, R. T. Hinde. 1890, J. W. Hinde. 
1894, O. H. Queal. 1898, M. R. Gossett. 

Treasurers. 
1827.— Samuel C. Owens, Russell Hicks. 1858, O. 
P. W. Bailey. 1860, Dr. John Montgomery. 1-861, J. 
B. Clover. 1862, Reuben Wallace. 1866, John T. Pen- 




A. L. e'OOPEE 



A. L. COOPER 

was born November 15, 1870, on a farm near the village of Wil- 
low Grove, Kent County, Delaware. His father, Thomas B. 
Cooper, was an active Delaware Democrat, a compatriot of 
Senator Bayard. 

Mr. Cooper came to Kansas City about ten years ago, an. I 
after studying law was admitted to the bar in 1895. Since then 
his rise has been rapid. By hard study and close attention to 
his clients' interests, Mr. Cooper has won his way until prob 
ably no j^oung lawyer at the Jackson County bar enjoys a bettfr 
reputation. As an advocate he is clear, incisive, with a dry wit 
which pleases most in a speaker. Mr. Cooper is frequently 
chosen by the circuit .judges as referee in complicated cas-^s 
on account of his judicial cast of mind, and it was this same 
fine quality that caused his friends to urge him for the Demo- 
cratic nomination for the circuit bench in June, 1902. 

Mr. Cooper is an active Democrat, who pulls off his coat 
and works for his party at election times without any thought 
of reward. He is a charter member of the Jackson County 
Democratic Club and has been one of its most active 
supporters. 



77 




E. E. PORTERFIELD. 



EDWARD EVERETT PORTERFIELD 

was born March 29, 1861, in Berkeley County, Va. His parents 
were William Rush and Helen O'Neill Porterfield. He gradu- 
ated in 1883 at Franklin and Marshall College, Lancaster, Md , 
and afterwards was principal of the public schools of Han- 
cock, Md. After studying law with Colonel Henry Kidd Doug- 
lass at Hagerstown, Maryland, Mr. Porterfield came to Kansas 
City in 1886, and began the practice of his profession. In 1896 
he received the Democratic nomination for police judge of 
Kansas City and led his ticket in the election but was defeated 
by the Republican landslide. Since then he has devoted him 
self to his profession, and his firm, Porterfield, Sawyer & Con- 
rad, enjoys a lucrative practice. Mr. Porterfield was one of 
the organizers of the Jackson County Democratic Club, and 
has been an active worker for its success ever since. He is 
an excellent lawyer, a splendid gentleman, and very popular 
among a wide circle of acquaintances. He married Miss Julia 
L. Chick, daughter of Joseph S. Chick, and they have been 
blessed with three children, two of whom are now living. 



79 




HTTm ('. WAfU), 



HUGH C. WARD 

was born March 10, 1864, at Westport, Mo., now a part of Kan- 
sas City, and he has lived here all his life. His parents were 
Seth E. and Mary F. Ward. Mr. Ward was educated in the 
public schools and later attended Harvard University. Ho 
was admitted to the bar in 1889 and in 1899 became the senior 
member of the law firm of Ward & Hadley. In 1893 he was 
elected to the State legislature, where he became con'spicuons 
for his integrity, ability and earnest advocacy of Democratic 
principles. In 1898 he was appointed by Governor Stephens a 
member of the Board of Police Commissioners for Kansas City 
and served in that capacity until the spring of 1902, when he 
resigned. As police commissioner he was the unswerving 
friend of the homes and property interests of all classes in the 
community. This was particularly manifest in the granting of 
saloon licenses where no political pull or personal friendship 
could influence him a feather-weight against the appeals of 
wives and mothers or of the home-owners of a neighborhood. 
Mr. Ward is a man of reserved manners, uncompromising 
in his denunciation of shams and political trickery, and like 
most men of force, a good hater and a warm friend. As a law- 
yer he is scholarly, and a lover of his profession for its own 
sake. He is most esteemed and respected by those whose re- 
spect and esteem are worth having. 



81 



dletoii. 1S70, J. B. Glover. 1872, Joseph W. Mercer. 
1874, John Murray. 1878, Benjamin Holmes. 1882, 
Benjamin Holmes. 1886, John Murray. 1890, David 
W. A\'allace. 1894, J. O. Capelle. 189G, Thomas F. 
Brady. 1900, A. C. Warner. 

Assessors. 
1848.— Geo. Hedges. 1852, Elliott Cariger. 1854, 
George Anderson. 1856, B. T. Thompson. 1861, Dan- 
iel O'Flaherty. 1865, James Lee. 1866, K. A. Ball 
(died after one month). 1866, James K. Sheley. 1868, 
W. Z. Hickman. 1870, C. A. Moor. 1874, Leander De- 
honey. 1878, Russell Noland. 1882, J. H. Corlew. 
1884, Thos. H. Edwards. 1886, W. H. Moore. 1888, 
Thos. M. Edwards. 1890, Geo. N. Petty. 1894, 0. S. 
Campbell. 1898, George Holmes. 1900, F. B. Xof- 
singer. 

/ Sheriffs. 

1827-1840. — Joseph Walker, Joseph Brown, Jacol) 
Gregg, John King. 1840, Joseph R. Reynolds. 1844, 
Thomas Pitcher. 1846, Benjamin F. Thompson. 1848, 
George W. Buchanan. 1852, Benjamin F. Thompson. 
1854, William Botts. 1858, John W. Burrus. 1861, 
O. P. \Y. Bailey. 1862, John Q. Hayden. 1864, H. H. 
AVilliams. 1866, Charles Dougherty. 1870, James 
Gray. 1872, C. B. L. Boothe. 1876, O. P. W. Bailey. 
1880, John C. Hope. 1882, Jno. C. Hope. 1884, W. T. 
Hickman. 1886, W\ T. Hickman. 1888, W. S. Sitling- 
ton. 1890, W. S. Sitlington. 1892, John P. O'Neill. 
1894, John P. O'Neill. 1896, R. S. Stone. 1898, R. S. 
^tone. 1900, W. S. Pontius. 

83 



Surveyors. 
1836.— John C. McCoy. 1840, George ^\\ Rhodes. 
1844, G. W. Buchanan. 1848, Lot Coffman, Edmund 
O'Flahertv. 1873, Martin O. Jones. 1876, Thomas C. 
Lee. 1880, Daniel O'Flaherty. 1884, P. H. Grinter. 
1888, F. J. O'Flaherty. 1896, Thos. F. Calhihan. 1900 
A. M. Stahhiaker. 

Marshals. 
1872.— George D. Page. 1873, Jeremiah Dowd. 
1874, Patrick Conner s. 1876, James W. Liggett. 
1880, Cornelius Murphy. 1882, C. Murphy. 1884, W. 
J. Phillips. 1886, Hugh J. McGowan. 1888, Hugh J. 
McGowan. 1890, Henry P. Stewart. 1892, Henry P. 
Stewart. 1894, Henry P. Stewart. 1898, S. H. Chiles 
1900, John P. Maxwell. 

Collectors. 
1872.— M. W. Anderson. 1876, Daniel Murphy. 
1880, Joseph M. Green. 1882, R. G. Wilson. 1884, R. 
G. Wilson. 1886, Frank C. W>att. 1888, Frank C. 
Wyatt. 1890, Elihu W. Hayes. 1892, E. W. Hayes. 
1894, Jas. W. McCurdy. 1898, Chris. S. Gottlieb* 
1900, Fred C. Adams. 

Senators. 
Jackson County, with Clay, Ray and Lafayette 
counties, comprised the thirteenth senatorial district 
in 1828, which was authorized to elect one State 
senator. 

1828.— L. W. Boggs. 

In December, 1828, Jackson and Lafayette counties 
were constituted the fourteenth senatorial district. 

83 




W, B. C. BROWN, 



WILLIAM B. C. BROWN 

was born during the Civil War at Sibley, Jackson County, Mo., 
of Scotch-Huguenot parentage. He took his degree of bachelor 
of arts at Westminster College, Fulton, Mo., and the full thre^'- 
years law course at Harvard. He was admitted to the bar at 
Kansas City, Mo., in 18S8. 

Mr. Brown was originally a Democrat, but he left his party, 
as many others did, on account of its position on the question 
of free silver and expansion, and after the Spanish War he be- 
came an ardent Republican. His speeches in the city cam- 
paign of 1900 attracted a great deal of attention, and that sum- 
mer he was nominated by acclamation by the Republicans for 
Congress against W. S. Cowherd, the Democratic nominee. In 
face of a Democratic majority of over 4,600, it was of course 
a forlorn hope, but Mr. Brown made the race with as much 
zeal and courage as if the odds had been in his favor. He 
stumped the district, often in joint debate with his eloquent 
opponent, and made friends and votes wherever he went. Al- 
though defeated in the contest he came out of it stronger than 
when he entered it, having won the admiration and respect of 
Democrats as well as Republicans by his plucky fight. 

Mr. Brown is a close student of political economy and his- 
tory, as well as of law, and his friends believe a future full of 
distinction is in store for him. He answers the criticism as to 
his change of party as Gladstone did: "AMse men change their 
n.'.nds: fools never do." 

As a lawyer Mr. Brown is as energetic and aggressive as he 
bar proved himself to be in politics, and with the exception of 
his congressional race, which he considered it his duty to 
make as the chosen standard-bearer of his party, he has never 
allowed politics to interfere with his practice. 



85 




W. S. COWHERD. 



WILLIAM STROTHER COWHERD, 

Democrat, of Kansas City, was born September 1, 1860, in 
Jackson County, Mo.; educated at the public schools in the 
town of Lee's Summlit, and the University of Missouri; was 
appointed assistant prosecuting attorney of Jackson County in 
1S85, aad served four years in that capacity; was appointed 
first assistant city counselor of Kansas City in 1890; was elect- 
ed mayor of Kansas City in 1892; was elected to the Fifty-fifth 
and Fifty-sixth Congresses, and re-elected to the Fifty-seventh 
Congress, and this year was renominated for Congress by ac- 
clamation. Mr. Cowherd made a great reputation in the fight 
for municipal ownership of the waterworks of Kansas City, 
and as mayor of Kansas City his record is an enduring monu- 
ment to his honesty, ability and fearlessness in the discharge 
of his duty. There has been much quiet talk of him as the 
Democratic nominee for Governor of Missouri in 1904. Be- 
longing to the minority party in Congress, Mr. Cowherd, like 
every other Democrat, has suffered from the arbitrary gag 
rules which the Republican speaker employs to choke off Dem- 
ocratic legislation, but still he stands high in Congress with 
Democrats and Republicans alike. He is an orator of rare 
ability, with a voice like a silver trumpet, that charms his 
audiences as much as his straightforward sincerity and earn 
estness. Without a trace of the demagogue he is yet beloved 
by the plain people. Mr. Cowherd is a lawyer of the highest 
class and probably loses more than he gains by being in 
l)nlitics. 



87 




JAMES T. WAKE. 



JAMES T. WARE 

was born April 4, 1858, in Bourbon County, Kentuclty. His an- 
cestors have been Americans since this country was discovered 
and his great grandfather was an ofRcer in the Revolutionai y 
War. Mr. Ware came to Kansas City fourteen years ago, and 
began life here as bookkeeper for a smelter company. Al- 
though taking an active interest in politics, Mr. Ware was 
never a candidate for office until 1900, when he was nominated 
for county assessor on th<^ Democratic ticket which was de- 
feated by an unfortunate split in the party. Although defeated. 
Mr. Ware made so many friends by his genial manners and en- 
oigetic personality as well as his graceful acceptance of defeat, 
that he emerged from the campaign stronger than before. He 
has been repeatedly urged since then for important appoint- 
nients at the hands of the Governor, but has invariably de- 
clined, saying that he did not wish to become a chronic office- 
seeker. Mr. Ware has a host of friends, is universally re- 
spected, and will doubtless be heard of in the future as a 
standard-bearer in Jackson County politics. 



1830, L. W. Bogf^s. 1832, Julius K .imona. 18;U, 
Al.iah.nu McCleliaud. 183<i, Ahniliain .McClellaud. 

liy a new api)ortionment Jackson and Van Buren 
(now Cass), became the twentj'-sixth senatorial dis 
triet. 

1838.— Smallwood V. Noland. 1840, L. Franklin. 

By a new apportionment Jackson, Van Buren and 
Bates were made the fourteenth senatorial district. 

1842.— L. W. Boggs. 1844, L. W. Boggs. 

A new apportionment threw Jackson, Johnson, 
Van Buren and Lafayette in the twenty-fifth district, 
with two senators. 

1841.— James Chiles, AYilliam Callioun. 1848, Jas. 
Chiles, John J. Burtis. 

Another apportionment constituted Jackson and 
Van Buren the twenty-third district. 

1850.— Alvin Brooking. 1852, Alvin Brooking. 
1854, W. J. Mayo. 185G, W. J. Mayo. 

A new apportionment made Jackson, Cass and 
Bates the fourteenth district. 

1858.— R. L. Y. Peyton. 1860, R. L. Y. Peyton. 
1862, R. T. Van Horn. 1864, R. T. Van Horn. 1867, 
Minor T. Graham. 1869, Minor T. Graham. 1871, 
John B. Wornall. 1873, John B. Wornall. 1875, J. 
B. Newbury. 

By the constitution of 1875, Jackson County was 
constituted the thirteenth senatorial district. 

1877.— George F. Ballingal. 1879, George F. Bal- 
lingal. 1881, T. V. Bryant. 1884, Arthur M. Allen. 
1888, W. B. Teasdale. 1890, W. B. Teasdale. 1892, 
R. A. Love, A. S. Lyman. 1894, R. A. Love, A. S. Ly- 

90 



man. 1898, O. G. Young, W. F. Lyons. 1900, J. S. 
Jewell, C. W. Clarke. 

JRepresentatives. 
1828, Sinallwood V. Nolan. 1830, Robert John- 
ston. 1832, S. V. Nolan. 1834, S. V. Nolan, Richard 
Fristoe. 1836, S. V. Nolan, Thomas Jeifries. 1838, 
Thomas Jeffries, J. Chiles. 1840, John King, C. C. 
Kavanaugh. 1842, George F. Tate, Robert G. Smart. 
1844, Joseph H. Reynolds, William Patterson. 1846, 
Frank Smith. 1848, Frank Smith. 1850 Benj. F. 
Thompson, Jacob Gregg. 1852, Samuel H. Woodson, 
Joseph H. Reynolds. 1854, E. C. McCarty, John W. 
Reid. 1856, John W. Reid, Jas. Childs. 1858, George 
W. Tate, Jas. B. Yager. 1860, N. C. Claiborne, James 
Porter. 1862, M. J. Payne, E. M. McGee. 1864, M .J. 
Payne. 1867, Jesse P. Alexander, John C. Gage. 1869, 
Jacob C. Boardman, S. S. Neely. 1871, G. W. Tate, 
Henry J. Latshaw. 1873, Stephen P. Twiss, Jas. Mc- 
Daniels, James R. Sheley. 1875, A. B. Spurill, S. P. 
Twiss, A. H. Powell. 1877, Benj. F. Wallace, George 
W. Nolan, S. P. Twiss, H. H. Craig. 1879, W. C. Adams, 
S. C. Ragan, N. M. Gwynne, P. H. Tieruan. 1881, A. W. 
Randall, A. M. Allen, D. P. Bigger, Harmon Bell. 1882, 
H. A. Porter, S. C. Ragan, John C. Gage, W. G. Ferry. 
1884, J. M. Adams, G. H. Noel, Henry Smith, N. B. 
Childs. 1886, G. H. Noel, Joseph Feld, Henry Smith, 
W. H. Miller. 1888, W. L. Webb, Ed. P. Garnett, J. G. 
Smith, T. F. Clohesey. 1890, W. L. Webb, J. C. Patrick, 
Henry S. Julian, A. S. Lyman. 1892, John D. Strother, 
J. C. Patrick, Chas. A. Millman, Hugh C. Ward, Joseph 

91 




GARLAND M. JONES. 



GARLAND M. JONES 

was born June 14, 1873, at Abingdon, Washington County, Va. 
Removing to Mississippi at an early age, he took his degree of 
bachelor of arts in 1893, and of bachelor of law in 1894, at th'j 
University of Mississippi. He enjoys the unique distinction 
of being the only student in that university who ever won the 
fr. f,hman, sophomore, junior and senior medals for oratory. 
He completed bis legal education under John Randolph Tucker 
at Washington and Lee University, Va., and entered on the 
practice of his profession at West Point, Miss. He rose rapidly 
in his profession, but, like most lawyers in the South who pos- 
sess oratorical ability, he was soon called upon to take an ac- 
tive part in politics. He did splendid service for the Democrat- 
ic party in the campaign of 1896, and the press of Mississippi 
reported that he divided the applause of his audiences with 
William Jennings Bryan. In 1898 Mr. Jones received an ad- 
vantageous offer to come to Kansas City and since then he 
has practiced his profession here with pronounced ability. 
When Mr. Jones came to Missouri he declared to his friends 
that he was going to dt^vote his entire time to the law — which 
is a jealous mistress— and let politics alone, but when Jame'S 
A. Reed led the forlorn hope of Democracy in the city cam- 
paign of 1900, Mr. Jones took the stump for him, and with rare 
modesty, volunteered for the not showy but difficult assign- 
ments, speaking in obscure halls and from street wagons. He 
did his part well, and, when the campaign was over, returned 
to the practice of his profession with the proud consciousness 
of having helped to win a victory for good government in his 
adopted city. 



93 




WILLIAM BUCRHOLZ. 



WILLIAM BUCEDHOLZ 

was born January 28, 1877, in Kansas City, Mo. His parents 
wore Germans, his father and mother coming here in the latter 
sixties. He graduated from the University of Missouri in 1896, 
and was a member of the foot-ball team which won the inter- 
state championship in 1895. The pluck and physical and men 
tal alertness that had made him famous on the foot-ball field 
soon brought him into favorable notice in his profession of the 
law, as well as in politics. He had barely reached his majority 
when he was elected secretary of the Fourth Ward club and 
when the Republican League was organized he was chosen as 
its first secretary. His services to his party in the County cam- 
paign in 1900 were recognized by Republicans and Democrats 
alike, and upon Mr. Hadley s election as prosecuting attorney 
Mr. Buchholz was appointed as one of his assistants in that 
important office, a position he has filled with dignity and 
ability. 



95 



Judge CHARLES E. BURNHAM. 



JUDGE CHARLES EDGAR BURNHAM 

was born July 27, 1867, in Randolph County, Mo. His parent- 
age on his father's side was English, the family coming to 
America in 1635. His mother belonged to the well-known Vir- 
ginia Huguenot family of Flournoy, who came to this country 
in 1717. In 1888 Mr. Burnham came to Kansas City, and the 
next year began the practice of law. In 1894 he was elected 
city attorney on the Republican ticket, to which office he was 
re-elected in 1896. In 1898 he was elected police judge. His 
remarkable race for the Republican nomination for mayor in 
1900, is still fresh in the memories of our citizens. Appointed 
assistant prosecuting attorney in 1900, he has contributed no 
little, by his energy and ability, to the splendid success of 
Prosecuting Attorney Hadley's administration. 

A good speaker, Judge Burnham is also an earnest, pains- 
taking, hard worker, in the preparation of his cases. He is 
known as one of the meif who burn midnight oil in the study 
of his profession. As a man Judge Burnham is modest, unas- 
suming and reticent. Loyal to his friends he has the faculty 
of attaching them warmly to him, while his enemies — for, like 
all men of force, he has some, in politics at least — hate him 
quite as cordially. In politics his chief strength lies in his pop- 
ularity with the plain ,>eople. 



97 



S. Bust, D. O. Smart. 1894, Jno. T. Crisp, Ira F. Ham- 
mond H. H. Hinde, Henry S. Julian, E. E. Phipps, H. 
^A . Jones. 1898, Geo. H. Noel, Homer B. Mann, J. H. 
Hawthorne, John M. Cleary, Frank Phillips, W. O. 
Cardwell, 1900, J. A. McLane, J. H. Hawthorne, Ed- 
ward McKennev, M. E. Getchell, M. L. Sullivan. 



98 



CHAPTER VII. 



Kansas City's Early Development. 

The political history of Kansas City, while more 
chequered than that of Jackson County, presents 
fewer strikin*;- episodes than that of most American 
cities. Politics, for the most part, has been from the 
very beginninjj; subordinated to commercial activity. 
Of late years it has been claimed that Kansas City is 
normally a Republican city, the claim being based on 
I he fact that in presidential years the city has given the 
Republican candidate a majority, ranging from 1,000 
to 2,000 votes. But in the city elections since the organ- 
ization of the municipality, the Democrats have won for 
the most part, and independent movements have been 
successful often enough to prove that party ties have 
little weight when the citizens consider that the mate- 
rial interests of the city are at stake. 

As has been staled, the first white settlement on 
the present site of Kansas City was in 1821 by French- 
Canadian fur-hunters, headed by the Chouteau broth 
ers. In 1833 John C. McCoy laid olf the town of West- 
port now incorporated as a part of Kansas City. The 
merchants of Westport received their goods by steam« 
boats which landed at the present site of Kansas City, 
which was then known as "Westport Landing.'' The 

99 




KUSH C. LAKE. 



RUSH C. LAKE, 

deputy collector of Internal Revenues, was born Apii! 13, 1S()2, 
in Buchanan County, Iowa. He came to Kan?a ; City abou 
fifteen years ago, and engaged in the practice of law. It was 
not long, however, before his fondness for politics manifested 
itself, and in a very short time th«>reafter his remarkable ability 
?.s an organizer became recognized and appreciated among the 
Republicans throughout the State. He found himself in a State 
and County wliich were overwhelmingly Democratic, and in 
which the Republican leaders were at bitter war among them 
s( Ives. Realizing the hopelessness of Republican success as 
long as this condition of affairs pre^^ailed, Mr. Lake undertook 
to organize the young Republicans of Missouri who were not 
identified with the int(M^necine strife which was dividing the 
old leaders. The result of his efforts was the organization of 
the Young Men's Republican League of Missouri, of which he 
was the first secretary. To this organization as much as to 
any other cause is due the credit for the decadence in factional 
fighting among the Missouri Republicans, and the prevalence 
of a better feeling of harmony. 

Mr. Lake was appointed deputy collector of Internal Rev- 
enue in 1898, and was reappointed in 1902, by Frank D. Roberts, 
the present collector, who, himself a master hand in politics, 
"N\as quick to recognize Mr. Lake's abilities. 



10 i 




ALBERT M. OTT. 



ALBERT M. OTT 

was born January 4, 1865, at Independence, Mo., where he has 
lived all his life. He graduated as a lawyer at the University 
of Pennsylvania in 1887, and was admitted to the bar at Phila- 
delphia in June of that year. In October, 1887, he was admitted 
to the Jackson County bar by Judge Gill, and at once entered 
upon the successful practice of his profession. He was success- 
ively city attorney of Independence, and assistant prosecuting 
attorney of Jackson County. In 1896 he was elected a member 
of the Democratic County Committee and in 1900 he became its 
secretary. Mr. Ott has the reputation of having filled these 
various positions with tact, ability and integrity, and he has 
succeeded in establishing himself prominently alike in politics 
and as a sound lawyer. Personally Mr. Ott is a man of strong 
personality, intense in his convictions and extremely loyal to 
\A. friends. 



103 




U. H. SWEARINGEN, 



O. H. SWEARINGEN 

was born July 29, 1871, in Simpson County, Kentucky. At the 
age of ten his parents brought him to Missouri. From the 
public schools of Clarence he entered the Macon District High 
school, a Methodist College, graduating in 1892, when lie came 
to Kansas City. Entering the employ of the Schmelzer Arms 
Company, he saved enough money in three years to enable him 
to take the law course at the Missouri State University, where 
he graduated in 1897. A noted athlete and foot-ball player at 
the University, and trained to hard work, Mr. Swearingen de- 
voted himself with equal energy to his chosen profession, and 
a successful practice quickly crowned his efforts. He is the 
legal representative of the I. 0. F. for Missouri and Kansas, as 
well as for the Bankers' Security Company for the Western 
district of Missouri. He was also president of the Missouri 
State Association of his college fraternity, the Kappa Alpha, 
ill 1897 and 1898. 

In 1899 he was elected as a Democrat from the Fifth Ward 
to the lower house of the City Council of Kansas City. His 
course while a member of Council, in advocating a franchise 
for the Enoch Telephone Company, was criticised severely in 
some quarters, but his vindication rests in the fact that a sub- 
sequent council has granted a similar franchise to Mr. Enocn 
and his associates. 

Mr. Swearingen is an earnest, hardworking lawyer, and Us 
a man he has many warm friends. He has won his way up- 
ward by his own exertions since his boyhood, and his way now 
seems assured to an honorable and useful life. 



105 



first warehouse on the bank of the river was kept by 
W. B. Evans, who was succeeded in the business by 
\\'. M. Chick and P. M. Chouteau. In 1838 Gabriel 
i*rudhomme, who owned the hmd at the Umding, died, 
and at the settlement of his estate the land, 256 acres, 
was bought by a company composed of W. L. Sublette, 
Moses G. Wilson, John C. McCoy, William Gillis, Fry 
P. McGee, Abraham Fonda, W. M. Chick, Oliver Cald- 
well, George W. Tate, Jacob Ragan, William Collins, 
James Smart, Sam C. Owen and Russell Hicks. The 
consideration for the land, which now includes most 
of Kansas City, was |4,220. 

This company laid it off into a town and named 
it ^'Kansas,-' but owing to dissensions among the own- 
ers no progress was made until 1846, when the com- 
I>any was reorganized with the following stockhold- 
ers: H. M. Northrup, Jacob Ragan, Henry Jobe, Will- 
iam Gillis, Robert Campbell, Fry P. IMcGee, W. B. 
Evans, W. :\[. Chick and John C. McCoy. Under this 
company the land was platted and in A])iil 1846, one 
hundred and fifty lots were sold at an average price 
of 155.65 per lot. After this the (own began to grow 
rapidly and in a few months had a ])opulation of 
about 600 inhabitants. TIh^ faith of the founders was 
fortified by the prophesy of Senatoi- Thomas H. Ren- 
ton that this was to be tlu^ site of "a grcnit commer- 
cial and manufactuiing community.'- John C. Fre« 
mont, the great exjjlorer said: ''This is the key to the 
immense territory to the west of us.'' 

In 1853 Kansas City was organized as a municipal- 
ity under a special charter obtained from the State 

106 



Legislature. In April, 1853, William S. Gregory was 
elected as its first mayor, defeating Dr. Benoist 
Troost. After the election it was discovered that Mi-. 
Gregory was ineligible by reason of not having been 
a resident of the city the length of time required by 
the charter. Dr. Johnston Lykins, the president of 
the council, filled his place, and the next year was 
elected to the office. 

Politics in the new city ran on an even keel, with- 
out special incident, until ISOl, when the lines were 
drawn between the Union and Confederate voters 
and a very exciting campaign resulted in the election 
of the Union candidate R. T. Van Horn over Dr. G. 
M. B. Maugh, the Confederate candidate by a major- 
ity of 109. Dr. Maughs went south and joined the 
Confederate Army. Colonel Van Horn raised a bat- 
talion of volunteers for the Union Army, and subse- 
quently became lieutenant-colonel of the Twenty-fifth 
Missouri Infantry. 

The town languished during the war and its pop- 
ulation fell off. In 1861 when Colonel Van Horn was 
again elected mayor, the total vote was 349, and in 
1865 when Patrick Shannon was elected mayor, the 
vote was 573. During the next year, however, the 
city grew rapidly and not less than six hundred new 
houses were built. In 1867 a census showed a popu- 
lation of 15,061 and trade for the year amounted to 
133,006,827. From that time the city's growth was 
steady and substantial. 

Politically the first serious struggle after the war 
arose over the waterworks franchise and plant built 

107 




Dr. h. a. longan. 



DR. HERBERT A. LONGAN 

was born November 13, 1854, in Cooper County, Mo., of Vir- 
ginia and Kentucky stock, his father, John B. Longan, a na- 
tive Missourian, now living in Sedalia. He graduated at the 
State Normal College, at AVarrensburg, in 1875, and at Spald- 
ing's Commercial College in 1877. He taught school for two 
winters, and entered the Louisville Medical College in 1878, 
graduating in 1880. He practiced medicine for three years at 
New Lebanon, Cooper County, Mo., and also two years in 
Holden, Mo., after which he moved to Sterling, Kansas. In 
1890 and 1891 he took a post-graduate course at the New York 
Polyclinic College, and then came to Kansas City. In 1883 
Dr. Longan married Miss Mattie May Walker, a daughter of 
P. G. Walker, of Cooper County, Mo. They have two children 
living, Walker B. and Marjorie May. Dr. Longan and Judge 
Geo. P. Longan, of Sedalia, Mo., are brothers. They also mar- 
ried sisters. 

From 1892 to 1895 Dr. Longan was demonstrator of anat- 
omy in the Kansas City Medical College. From 1895 to 1S9S 
he occupied the chair of operative surgery and surgical dress- 
ings in the College of Physicians and Surgeons, which is the 
Medical Department of the Kansas City University. Since 
1898 he has been local surgeon of the Missouri Pacific Rail- 
way Company, and consulting surgeon of the Kansas City 
Southern Railway since 1899. 

Dr. Longan was a member of the Board of Medical Exam- 
iners for the police commission from 1892 to 1894, and was 
examining surgeon for the Pension Board fi-om 1894 to 1897. 
In September, 1897, he was appointed police surgeon of Kan- 
sas City, a post he has held with distinguished ability and 
fidelity ever since. 



109 




R. W. WADDELL. 



ROBERT WILLIAM WADDELL, 

city engineer of Kansas City, was born October 31, 1859, at 
Port Hope, Ontario, Canada. His father, who was sheriff of 
Northumberland and Durham Counties, was of Irish stock and 
his mother was an American, tracing her lineage as such back 
for nine generations. After graduating in the high schools of 
Cobourg, .young Waddell took a course in engineering at Mc- 
Giil College, Montreal, graduating in 1881. The same year he 
came to the United States, locating at Omaha, Nebraska. Mr. 
Vvaddell devoted himself to his profession without a thought 
of politics until May 15, 1900, when he was appointed to his 
present position. And since then there has been no politics in 
the department of which he is the head. When Mr. Waddell be- 
came city engineer he found Kansas City had far outgrown 
her sewer system, and typhoid and other disseases were prev- 
alent on that account. He at once addressed himself to the 
tremendous task of reconstructing the sewer system for the 
entire city, and through his efforts contracts were soon let for 
almost three-quarters of a million dollars for new sewers and 
for connections between old ones which formerly ran nowhere 
or emptied into ditches in the heart of the city. The results 
of his patient and untiring labors are not conspicuous but they 
are of priceless benefit to the health and comfort of the city, 
and many a child who grows up rosy-cheeked in Kansas City 
will have reason to be thankful that Mr. Waddell is an engineer 
and not a politician. In 1897 Mr. Waddell married Miss S. E. 
Vair of Peterboro, Ontario, and they have two children to bless 
the union. 



111 




% 1^ 




FRANK P. SEBKEE. 



FRANK P. SEBREE 

was born October 25, 1854, at Fayette, Mo. His father and 
mother were Missourians and from them he inherited that 
sturdiness of character which Missourians are proud to claim 
£<& a birthright. Mr. Sebree graduated as a lawyer and prac- 
ticed for awhile in the int«>rior counties, coming to Kansas City 
thirteen years ago. Since that time he has been successively 
representative in the State Legislature, County counselor, chair- 
man cf the Democratic County Committee, police commissioner 
of Kansas City, and president of the Board of Election Com- 
missioners for Jackson County, a position he now holds. He 
was also th(> nominee of his party for mayor of Kansas Citv 
in 1898 and, although defeated, he won all hearts by his gallant 
rare in that campaign. 

Mr Sebree stands high as a lawyer and enjoys a large 
practice, but his admitted talents have not contributed as much 
to his success at the bar and in political life, as his fairness, 
courage and unflinching integrity. These qualities so impress 
all who come in contact with him, and are so manifest in his 
<'very act and word, that in Kansas City he is affectionately 
known as "Old Honesty." He is a living proof of the fact that 
honor and success lie in right living rather than in talents 
no matter how great, if not grounded in truth and courage. 
xMr. Sebree married Miss Russie Boyd, daughter of the late 
Colonel Samuel Boyd of Marshall, Mo. They have one son, 
Sam Sebree, who, although only 15 years of age, is now in his 
third year in the Kansas City High School. 



113 



bj the National Waterworks Company, composed of 
Lawsou & Co., bankers; Amos R. Green, owner of the 
Kansas City Times; Thomas Corrigan and others. At 
the city election in 1875 the issue was raised that the 
waterworks plant, jnst completed had not been built 
in good faith, according to the terms of the franchise. 
A hot campaign on this issue between John R. Lock- 
ridge regular Democratic nominee, E. S. Jewett, Re- 
publican nominee, and Turner A. Gill, Citizens' can- 
didate for mayor, resulted in Judge Gill's election, and 
the defeat of the Waterworks Company in its effort 
to control the jjolitics of the city. In this election 
Judge Gill was supported by such men as George M. 
Shelley, John C. Gage, ^^■ash Adams, D. B. Holmes, 
J. Y. C. Karnes, and last but not least. Major William 
AVarner, who, with the best men in the city, rose 
superior to partisan politics in the contest. After the 
election City Counselor John C. Gage went to New 
York and instituted proceedings to have the charter 
of the Waterworks Company forfeited. This, to- 
gether with the refusal of the city to pay water rents, 
brought the company to terms, and a compromise was 
etfected upon advantageous terms to the city. This 
was the bitterest political fight in the history of the 
city, and out of it grew enmities and political align- 
ments which have lasted until the present time. 



114 



CHAPTER \ III. 



Kansas City Since 1875. 

After the contest over the waterworks question 
in 1875 Kansas City's politics ran along without spe- 
cial incident except that it may be remarked that 
when George M. Shelley was elected mayor in 1878, 
he gave his salary to the poor and devoted all his time 
to the duties of his office. Democratic and Republi- 
can successes alternated at the polls and the town 
was too busy growing to take much stock in partisan 
political struggles. No absorbing question arose until 
the election of W. S. Cowherd as mayor in 1892. 

In that election the waterworks question which had 
been simmering during all the years since the build- 
ing of the plant in 1874, came to the front again on 
the proposition contained in the original franchise, 
that the city should have the option to purchase the 
plant at a fair valuation at the expiration of the 
twenty years franchise. The Waterworks Company 
wanted a renewal of the franchise for another term of 
twenty years, and Mayor Cowherd planted himself on 
the side of municipal ownership. A relentless strug- 
gle was waged on both sides, and money was used 
lavishly, but again the people of Kansas City won 
their second battle against a public corporation, and 

115 




GEORGE HOLMES. 



GEORGE HOLMES, 

city assessor, was born December 29, 1834, at Shrewsbury, Eng- 
land, At the age of 16 he came to New York, and thence to 
Independence, Mo, In 1851 Mr, Holmes crossed the Great 
American Desert with an ox team, going to Santa Fe, New 
Mexico. Returning to Jackson County the same year he worked 
on a farm and taught school during the winter. In 1852 he 
went with Alexander Majors' ox train to El Paso, Texas, and 
that fall he returned to Westport, where he kept books for 
Simpson & Winchester. In 1857 Mr. Holmes went into the cat- 
tle business, and, after the war, in 1866 he opened a grain store 
on the market square. In 1867 he became assistant cashier of 
the Mechanics' Bank, and the following year went into the 
commission business at the Stock Yards, continuing in that 
business for about twenty-five years. 

Mr. Holmes was appointed a member of the Board of Pub- 
lic Works by Mayor Holmes and was re-appointed by Mayor 
Cowherd. In 1899 he was appointed by Governor Stephens as 
county assessor to succeed Charles Bowers, deceased. In 1901 
he was appointed city assessor by Mayor Reed, which position 
ho now holds. In 1856 Mr. Holmes married Miss Susan Stone 
and to them have been born six children, four of whom are 
new living. 

In his long and honorable career in business and in poli- 
tics Mr. Holmes has been faithful to every trust and in the 
evening of life he enjoys the respect and regard of the whol.> 
coDimunity. 



117 




JOHN F. LUMPKIN. 



JOHN F. LUMPKIN 

was born in 1858 at Baltimore, Maryland, of an old and honor- 
able family. His father, Robert G. Lumpkin, was in the whole- 
sale hat business for fifty years in Baltimore. His grandfather 
was from Lumpkin County, Georgia, a county that was named 
in honor of his great grandfather, who was a celebrated judge 
wriose decisions are now of daily reference. Mr Lumpkin 
graduated at Baltimore, Md., and remained there in business 
wi.h his father until the latter's retirement in 1886, when he 
entered the employ of a New York wholesale hat firm as 
a traveling salesman. In 1889 he came to Kansas City to 
travel for a wholesale hat firm. Since 1891 he has been man- 
ager for Nicoll, the tailor. 

In April 1902 Mr. Lumpkin was elected on the Democratic 
ticket as alderman from the Third Ward of Kansas City, a Re- 
publican ward, by 300 majority. The nomination came to 
him without his solicitation. It was a tribute to his wide ac- 
quaintance and equally wide popularity. Mr. Lumpkin was 
recognized throughout Kansas City as a leader of fashion, but 
as a politician— his political enemies laughed at the idea of a 
social exquisite leading such a forlorn hope as the situation In 
the Third Ward presented. But Mr. Lumpkin proved himself 
as clear-headed, energetic and resourceful in politics as he had 
been in business and the result was his triumphant election. 
His record in the City Council has proved him to be a man 
of unusual practical sense, clean in morals as in his dress, and 
courageous in his stand for the welfare of the city. He is very 
popular with the working classes, for at heart he is a real, old- 
tashioned Democrat. 



119 




WILLIAM J. KNEPP. 



WILLIAM J. KNEPP 

was born November 11, 1858, in McVeytown, Mifflin County, 
Pennsylvania, of German parentage. Educated in the common 
schools and academy of his home county, he began his busi- 
licss career as a telegraph operator with the Pennsylvania Rail- 
way Company in 1876. Coming to Kansas City in the fall of 
1879, he held positions of trust with the Santa Fe Railway Co., 
Union Depot Co., and Western Union Telegraph Co., until eight 
years age when he purchased a seat in the Board of Trade of 
Kansas City, of which organization he is still a member. In 
April of this year he connected himself with Willard E. Winner 
in the promotion of suburban electric railways. 

Mr. Knepp has been a resident of Kansas City for twenty- 
three years. He has a comfortable hom.e in No. 100 East 34th 
feireet, located in the Eleventh Ward of this city, which com- 
prised the suburb of Westport prior to extension of Kansas 
City's limits. 

Mr. Knepp served one terra as alderman in Westport 
Council in 1895-96. In the spring of 1896 he was elected a mem- 
ber of the Board of Education of the Westport school district, 
serving as secretary of the Board until that district was merged 
into a Kansas City school district. In 1900, Mr. Knepp was 
elected a member of the upper house of Kansas City's Common 
Council for a term of four years. There he soon won an en- 
v.able reputation as one of the four men, the others being Rood, 
Sawyer and Strode, who stood by Mayor Reed in his mem- 
orable fight for good government. These four men, although 
in a minority, never wavered or became discouraged for a mo- 
ment, and in 1902 their steadfast efforts were endorsed by the 
people in the election of an upper house which was in accoul 
with them. 



121 



the first great step was taken in the direction of 
municipal ownership. The city bought a gold brick 
when it purchased the waterworks plant at a cost of 
13,100,000, but it was more than compensated in the 
acquisition of the franchise. 

Mayor Cowherd's administration was also signal- 
ized by his fight for dollar gas, in which he was finally 
victoiious, and by the vitalizing of the public park 
and boulevar<l system, the magnificent ]n'0])oi'tions of 
which is just beginning to be realized. 

In the city campaign of 1804, the Democrats split 
and two Democratic tickets were placed in tlie field, 
one headed by Frank G. Johnson, and tln^ other by 
Frank Cooper. The former represented the i-egulars 
and the latter the silk-stocking. No question of juin- 
ciple was at stake, unless such a question underhiy 
the leadership in local politics of Marcy K. Brown, 
exce])t that the question of the renewal of the Metro- 
])olitan Street Eailway franchise was beginning to 
loom up. The result of the split was the election of 
the Kepublican candidate, Webster Davis, and the be- 
ginning of a feud in the Democratic ranks which has 
lasted ever since. In 189G and 1808 the Republicans 
were victorious at the polls largely through the influ- 
ence of the A. P. A. craze that swept over the country. 

In J 900 the fight for municii)al ownership was re- 
newed by the Democrats undei- the brilliant leader- 
shi]) of James A. Reed. The principal question at 
staivc was the street railway service and the renewal 
of the franchise of the Metropolitan Street Railway 
Company, although the telephone and electric light 

122 



prof)ositions were also involved. - In this, the third 
struggle between the people and the public service 
corporations, the people again won the victory and 
James A. Reed was elected mayor by a large major- 
ity. Three days before he assumed the office of mayor, , , 
however, the retiring mayor and City Council con- 
firmed the renewal of the street railway company's 
franchise. Mayor Keed kept up the agitation for pub 
lie ownership, but his efforts were blocked in a mens 
ure by the opposition of the upper house of the City 
(Jouncil, which refused to confirm liis appointment of 
a city counselor and other officials. In 1902 Mayor 
Reed's policies were triumphantly vindicated at the 
polls, he and the entire Democratic ticket being re- I 
elected, while those who had opposed him were rele- 
gated to private life. With a friendly City Council 
and a city counselor who shared his views. Mayor Reed 
iuimediately took steps to test the validity of the re- 
Jiewal of the street railway franchise, and this led to 
a compromise between the city and the street railway 
company in which the city reaped man}- substantial 
benefits. 

Under Mayor Reed's admistrations the cause of 
municipal ownership — the success of which has been 
demonstrated in over 250 of the principal cities of the 
world — if not actually realized in fact, has received 
such a splendid imi)etus that ultimate success is be- 
yond dispute. 



123 




A. N. GOSSETT. 



ALFRED N. GOSSETT, 

lawyer, was born November 13. 1861, at Sharpsburg, Bath 
County, Kentucky. His forefathers were English, although his 
family has been prominent in America for generations. His 
parents removing to Jackson County in 1867, his youth was 
passed on a farm near Independence. After graduating from 
Woodland College at Independence, he took a law course at 
Washington University at St. Louis, Mo., obtaining his degree 
in 1883. Since then he has been a member of the law firm of 
Cook & Gossett of Kansas City. Mr. Gossett is essentially a 
ripe lawyer and has won an enviable place at the Kansas City 
bar, but still he has found leisure to do good work for the Dem- 
ocratic party and he would have no trouble in winning politi- 
cal honors if he desired them. He has been an earnest sup- 
porter of the Jackson County Democratic Club and is one of 
its most respected members. 



125 



JOHN HAYES. 



JOHN HAYES 

was born July 4, 1855, at Rockford, Illinois, of Irish parentage. 
He removed to Kansas City in 1872, and in 1880 was appointed 
a patrolmen on the police force of Kansas City. In 1889 he was 
made a detective of meritorious service, and in April, 1897, 
after eight years of brilliant service, was promoted to the post 
of chief of detectives. In October, 1897, he was appointed act- 
ing chief of police, and in May, 1898, he was appointed chief 
of police. In May, 1901, he was re-appointed chief of police, 
iv'hich position he now holds. As patrolman, detective, chief 
of detectives and chief of police Mr. Hayes has made a splendid 
record, for ability, honesty, courage and fidelity to duty. He 
is a broad-minded man, with a great fund of strong common 
sense, just the kind of man who is always needed but so seldom 
found at the head of the police department of a great city. In 
times of public excitment his judgment and firmness have re- 
peatedly prevented bloodshed, while in dealing with law-break- 
ers he is prompt and uncompromising. His management of 
the crowds, and his control of the criminal classes, during the 
Democratic National Convention in 1900 excited the unbounded 
admiration of visitors from all parts of the United States. 



127 




JOHN L. PEAK. 



JOHN L. PEAK 

was born in Scott County, Kentucky, in April, 1839. His family 
came from England to Virginia in the Seventeenth Century 
and Mr. Peak's grandfather moved to Kentucky in 1780. Mr. 
Peak was educated at private schools and graduated at the age 
of nineteen at Georgetown University. He won the prize as 
a debater at college and, entering the Louisville Law School in 
1860, he was elected Washington Birthday orator. In 1862 he 
began the practice of law at Georgetown, Ky., and in 1868 he 
moved to Kansas City. Mr. Peak was always a lawyer rather 
than a politician, but in 1876 the condition of affairs in Jackson 
Ccmnty led to his election as prosecuting attorney without his 
seeking it. He did his duty so well that he was re-elected in 
1878. After the expiration cf his term he resumed his private 
practice until 1895 when he was appointed Minister to Switzer- 
land by President Cleveland. He resigned this office in June, 
1897, in the conviction that President McKinley's administra- 
tion should be represented by a Republican. Returning to 
Kansas City he has since practiced law with distinguished 
ability. 

Mr. Peak is a Democrat, an active member of the Baptist 
Church, and a Mason of high rank. He is a charter member 
of the Jackson County Democratic Club and was active in its 
organization. Mr. Peak's distinguishing characteristic is his 
public-spiritednecs. As prosecuting attorney he found many 
defects in the criminal law of Missouri, and he never rested 
until the legislature remedied them. He has always shown 
himself a champion of law and order, and he stands for all 
that is best and purest in society. As an orator, Mr. Peak has 
few equals in the West. 



129 



CHAPTER IX. 



City Officials. 

1853. — W. S. Gregory, Johnston Lykins; treas- 
urer, P. M. Cbouteaii; assessor, G. W. Wolf; register, 

S. W. Boiiton; marshal, M. B. Hedges; attorney, 

Nelson; coiincilmen, Wm. G. Barkley, Thompson Mc- 
Daniel, AAMlliam J. Jarboe, T. H. West, T. S. Wright, 
M. J. Payne and Johnson Lykins. 

1854. — ^fayor, Johnson Lykins; treasurer, H. M. 
Northrop; assessor, Hallom Rice; register, William 
G. Barkley; marshal. J. P. Howe; c-ity attorneys, John 
(^iirtis, Asa Bartlett; L-ouncilmen, Benoist Troost, J. 
C. McNees, Daniel Edgerton, Caleb Kerr, M. J. Payne, 
T. II. West. 

1855. — Mayors, John Johnson and M. J. Payne; 
treasurer, E. R. Tlirelkeld; assessor, J. W. Summers; 
registers, M. J. Payne, S. ^^^ Bouton; city engineers, 
C. C. Spaulding, Fred Breckeniidge; marshal, J. P. 
Howe; city attorney, Asa Bartlett; councilmen, Cak*b 
Kerr, A. T. Gilham, J. W. Amnions, John S. Camp- 
bell, John C. McNees and T. J. Wilson. 

1856.— Mayor, M. J. Payne; tnnisurer, E. R. Tlnel 
keld; assessor, J. P. Howe; register, S. W. Bouton; 
city engineer, Robert J. Lawrence; marshal, J. P. 
Howe; city attorney, S. W. Bouton; councilmen, T. J. 

130 



\A ilson, John Johnson, Caleb Kerr, John S. Campbell, 
A. T. (Hlhiim, M. B. Hedges, William J. Jarboe. 

1857.~Mayor, M. J. Tayne; treasnier, E. R. Threl- 
keld; collector, F. M. Barnes; assessor, S. W. Boiiton; 
registers, S. \V. Bouton, John S. Hough; engineers, C. 
P. Wiggins, Ed. O'Flaherty; marshal, J. P. Howe; 
city attorney, William A. Strong; councilmen, R. J. 
Lawrence, William J. Jarboe, A. T. Gillham, R. T. Van 
Horn, I. M. Ridge, Michael Smith, D. J. Williams. 
On August 17th, this council resigned, and the fol- 
lowing named persons were elected: William J. Jar- 
boe, John Johnson, James A. Frame, T. B. Lester, L 
M. Ridge, John A. Boarman. 

1858.— Mayor, M. J. Payne; treasurer, E. R. Threl- 
keld; collector, D. L. Shouse; assessors. Lot Coffman, 
James A. Gregory; register, L. B. Scott; attorney, J. 
W. Robinson; engineer, J. Q. Anderson; wharfmaster, 
S. M. Gilham; marshal, F. M. Barnes; city attorney, 
J. ^^^ Rob'nson; councilmen, T. B. Lester, John W. 
Animons, John S. Hough, Michael Smith, Charles 
Long, George A\'. See. 

1859. — Mayor, ^L J. Payne; treasurer, John A. 
Boarman; collector, D. L. Shouse; assesor, S. W. Bou- 
ton; register, Daniel Geary; engineer, J. Q. Ander- 
son; wharfmaster, S. M. Gilham; wharf register, W. A. 
Pollard; marshal, Jonathan Richardson; city attor- 
ney, John W. Robinson; recorder, J. W. Summers; 
councilmen, J. B. Higgins, E. M. McGee, L. A. Schoen, 
E. B. Cravens, Theo. S. Case, N. C. Claiborne. 

1860. — Mayor, G. M. B. Maughs; treasurer, Jolin 
A. Boarraan; collector, S. D. Vaughn; assesor, J. K. 

131 




N. F. HEITMAN. 



N. F. HEITMAN 

was born September 11, 1860, on a farm in North Carolina. 
A farmer boy, he worked his way up until now he ranks as 
one of the best lawyers and most influential men in Kansas 
City. He graduated from the University of North Carolina 
at the head of his class and won the orator's medal in a com- 
petitive contest. He afterwards graduated in law at the Uni- 
versity of Virginia. 

Coming to Kansas City, he devoted himself to his pro- 
fession with such fidelity and ability that he soon became 
one of the foremost lawyers at the bar. He is a Democrat 
and a charter member of the Jackson County Democratic 
Club. He has always been a strong advocate of high political 
standards in the councils of his party. His hand is seen in 
the party's platforms — notably in the declarations against all 
forms of private monopoly and those declaring for public 
ownership of public utilities, and for a stricter regulation of 
public corporations. These propositions he has vigorously 
championed. 

Mr. Heitman made a remarkable race for the Democratic 
nomination for circuit judge in 1902. He had no clique, com- 
bination, faction or organization to back him, but his per- 
sonal merit and popularity kept him in the lead until next 
to the last ballot. He has no political ambition except in the 
line of his profession, and his purity of character, party ser- 
vice and eminent fairness and fitness entitle him to be hon- 
ored by his party. Aside from politics, he is a sound and suc- 
cessful lawyer. 



133 




SCHUYLER C. KELLY. 



SCHUYLER C. KELLY 

was born Aiigu-:t 9, 1868, at Delavan, Illinois. His father was 
born in New York City and came West in 1858 during the gold 
hoom in Colorado. His mother was born and reared in Ray 
County. Mo. Her parents come from Tennessee. Seventeen 
years ago Schuyler Kelly came to Kansas City to earn his liv- 
ing, and as a lad he first sold newspapers and then became con- 
nected with the Kansas City Star, remaining in that employ- 
ment for ten years until he was appointed clerk of the police 
court in 1900, which position he still occupies and fills with 
gi'eat tact and fidelity. In 1888 he joined the Third Regiment 
of Missouri National Guards and served as a private during 
the strike riots at Bevier, Macon County, Mo., for twenty-thrae 
days during the winter of 1888-89. He was recently elected 
Lieutenant-Colonel of the regiment and is now the oldest man 
in it in point of service. He has attended every camp and every 
trip in which the regiment has participated for fourteen years. 

Colonel Kelly served in the Spanish-American War, a^ 
captain of Company G, Third Missouri Infantry, U. S. V. He 
was at Jefferson Barracks. Mo., Camp Alger, Va., and Camp 
Meade, Pa. 

Colonel Kelly is a charter member of the Jackson County 
Democratic Club, and has always given it his generous and 
active support. He is one of the most popular Democrats in the 
l"'ourteenth Ward, and, in fact, in Kansas City. 



135 




LEWIS B. SAWYER. 



LEWIS B. SAWYER 
was born August 25, 1869 at Austin, Cass County, Mo His 
father was born in Maine and his mother was a native of Indi- 
ana. Receiving his education in the. public schools and at 
Butler Academy, he graduated at the Kansas City Medical Col- 
lege in 1892. He served as assistant city physician in 1892 and 
practiced medicine successfully eight years in Kansas City 
Taking up the study of law he began the practice in 1899 with 
Xeasdale, Ingraham and Cowherd. He is now a member of the 
flourishing law firm of Porterfield, Sawyer & Conrad, and is 
also professor of medical jurisprudence in the University Medi- 
cal College and also in the Woman's Medical College of Kansas 
City. 

In 1898 Dr. Sawyer was elected to the lower house of thp 
City Council from the Seventh Ward. His record in the Coun- 
cil won him such a name that he was nominated on the Demo 
cratic ticket in 1900 and elected to the upper house of the City 
Council. His record in the upper house has been a synonym 
for honesty, fairness and devotion to duty. Sawyer, Knepp 
Rood and Strode, this quartette have been the people's cham' 
x-^ions in the upper house. When the Jackson County Demo- 
cratic Club was organized in August * 1900 Dr. Sawyer was 
elected its first president, and he watched over it and carried 
It through the trying times of its infancy like a father He 
has been prominently mentioned as the next Democratic nom- 
inee for mayor of Kansas City. 



137 



Starr; register, Dan Geary; city engineer, C. L. De- 
Ham; wharf master, W. Y. PuUiam; city attorney, J. 
Richardson; wharf register, Thos. Oliver; recorder, J. 
W. Summers; conncilmen, Lot Coffman, W. V. Pul- 
liam, ^^^ W. Ford, A. L. Harris, John Campbell, D. 
A. N. Grover, W. J. Jarboe, D. M. Jarboe, Dennis 
O'Brien. 

1861. — Mayor, E. T. Van Horn; treasurer, John A. 
lioarman; collector, S. D. Vaughn; assessor, E. 
O'Flaherty; register, Michael Smith; city engineer, 
Ed. O'Flaherty; wharf register, Thomas Oliver; city 
marshal, George F. Irwin; city attorney, J. S. Bore- 
man; city recorder, George W. Toler; councilmen, D. 
A. N. Grover, Charles Long, Patrick Shannon, A. L. 
Harris, J. E. Snyder, M. J. Payne, B. M. Jewett, N. 
Vincent, J. Lykins. 

1862. — Mayor, M. J. Payne; treasurer, J. A. Bach- 
man; collector, S. D. Vaughn; assessor, E. O'Flaherty; 
register, Michael Smith; engineer, Ed. O'Flaherty; 
wharfmaster, F. R. Lord; marshal, William Holden; 
wharfmaster, John Joyce; city attorney, William 
Quarles; recorder, George W. Toler ; councilmen, J. 
Thorne, M. Dively, E. M. Sloan, J. R. Ham, John 
Kaney, Lewis Deardorf, Thomas Burke, P. Switzgabel. 

1863. — Mayor, William Bonnefield; treasurer, A. B. 
Cross; collector, C. F. Smith; assessor, I). M. Jarboe; 
register, B. Donnelly; engineer, R. B. Whitney; wharf- 
master, F. McMillan; marshal, Dennis O'Brien; wharf- 
register, Alphonso Hughes; city attorney, William 
Quarles; recorder, A. Ellenberger; councilmen, C. W. 
Fairman, P. Switzgabel, W. C. Holmes, F. Timmer- 

138 



man, F. P. Flagler, Lewis Deardorf, Thomas Burke, 
and Charles Dwyer. 

1864.— Mayor R. T. Van Horn; treasurer, S. D. 
Vaughn; collector, li. Salisbury; 'assessor, E. O'Fla- 
lierty; register, B. Donelly; engineer, Wm. Millar; 
wharfmaster, F. R. Lord; marshal, Dennis O'Brien; 
wharf register, John Joyce; attorney C. Carpenter; re 
corder, A. Ellenberger; councilmen, C. A. Carpenter, 
James Mansfield, Charles Dwyer, Theo. S. Case, Thos. 
Burke, R. L. Riggins, xVaron Raub, P. C. Causey, P. 
Shannon, P. S. Brown. 

1865. — Mayor, P. Shannon; treasurer, S. D. Vaughn; 
collector, E. B. Cravens; assesor, E. O'Flaherty; Reg- 
ister, B. Donnelly; engineers, William Millar, Ed. 
O'Flaherty; wharfmaster, Thomas Fox; wharf register, 
Samuel Quest; marshal, Jeremiah Dowd; attorney, T. 
]>. Rummel; recorder, C. A. Carpenter; councilmen, P. 
S. Brown, H. L. Huhn, J. G. Watkins, E. F. Rogers, 
John Taylor, Cerhart Zucker, Thomas Burke, William 
Kolb. 

1860. — A. L. Harris, mayor; S. D. Vaughn, treas- 
urer; Charles Long, collector; B. Donelly, assessor; 
D. O'Brien, register; Edmund O'Flahertj^, engineer; 
IL G. Toler, wharfmaster; Philip Ott, wharf register; 
Jeremiah Dowd, marshal; Charles Carpenter, attor- 
uey; C. A. Carpenter, recorder; councilmen, Charles 
Dwyer, John Bauerlein, Robert Salisbury, F. A. Mitch- 
ell, N. Vincent, Henry Tobener, Thomas Burke, David 
Slater, John R. Balis. 

1867.— E. H. Allen, mayor; J. W. L. Slavens, treas- 
urer; James Lee, assessor; Dennis O'Brien, auditor; 

139 




Dr. GEORGE HALLEY. 



DR. GEORGE HALLEY 

was born September 10, 1839 at Aurora, Ontario, Canada. His 
mother, Jane Baird, a lineal descendant of Sir Isaac Newton, 
was a niece of Dr. James Baird, who was surgeon-in-charge at 
St. Helena, and who gave up his own cottage to Napoleon 
during his exile there. Dr. Halley's father was a descendant of 
Sir Edmond Halley, the astronomer. 

Dr. Halley graduated in medicine at the University of Vic- 
toria, Toronto, Canada, attended a clinical course in New York, 
and came to Kansas City in 1870, where he has practiced his 
profession ever since. 

In 1871 Dr. Halley married Miss Florence Childs, a niece 
of General Sterling Price, and four children were born of the 
union, one of whom is now living. In 1889 he married Miss 
Jessie Eggleston, of Olathe, Kansas, by whom he has had two 
children. In 1892 Dr. Halley was commissioned as surgeon- 
major of the Third Regiment of Missouri, and he organized the 
hospital corps for the command. In 1899 he was commissioned 
as chief surgeon of the First Brigade of Missouri, and still re- 
tains that position. He was also instrumental in promoting 
the organization of the Association of the Military Surgeons cf 
the United States. 

Dr. Halley was a charter member of the Jackson County 
Democratic Club and was its first treasurer. His name was a 
tower of strength to the club in the trying times of its inception 
and early establishment. He is a Democrat of the old school, 
standing for free trade and equal rights. As a physician and 
surgeon Dr. Halley stands second to none in the West. As a 
man, he is modest, scholarly, genial, polished and kind, but 
outspoken in defense of the right as well as in denunciation of 
tricks and shams of all kinds. 



141 




])R. W. F. MORROW 



DR. W. F. MORROW 

was born July SI, 1854. in Macon County, Mo. He comfs from 
that sturdy Scotch-Irish stock which has done so much for 
America in peace and in war, for it is the stock from which 
so many of her famous statesmen and great soldiers have 
sprung. 

Dr. Morrow graduated at the Missouri Medical College at 
St. Louis, and came to Kansas City in 1887 to practice his pro- 
fession. As a physician Dr. Morrow has been eminently suc- 
cessful not only in his treatment of his patients but in winning 
the confidence and universal respect of his brother physicians 
as well as of the public generally. He lives with his family in 
a charming home, and men and women alike seek his friend 
ship as much as his professional services. 

Dr. Morrow has never been a politician in the sense of 
seeking ofRce, but he is noted for his strong convictions in re- 
gard to a citizen's duty to his country, and he is as conscien- 
tious in the discharge of his civic obligations as he is in obeying 
the calls of his profession. He has particularly strong views in 
regard to the ethics of his profession, and since his appoint- 
ment by Governor Dockery in April, 1901, as a member ajQd 
secretary of the Missouri State Board of Health, his efforts have 
been marked in raising the standard of his profession in the 
State. 

Dr. Morrow was one of the charter members of the Jackson 
County Democratic Club, and he expressed himself with great 
energy, at its earliest meetings, in favor of stamping out fac- 
tionalism within the party. 



143 




THOMAS S. RIDGE. 



THOMAS S. RIDGE 

was born November 26, 1859, in Kansas City, Mo. His parents 
were Kentiickians, and his father, Dr. I. M. Ridge, was one or' 
the pioneers of Jackson County, and is to-day one of the best 
known men in Kansas City. 

Mr. Ridge is almost equally well-known, as a member of 
the insurance firm of Hunter, Ridge & Bryant. Mr. Ridge is 
interested in a number of other business enterprises in Kansas 
City, as well as in Colorado and Texas. He is not only a first- 
class business man, but is a student and a writer of no mean 
ability. 

Mr. Ridge has never been a candidate for public office, al- 
though his friends have urged him several times in this con- 
nection, but he is a man of active public spirit and has always 
taken a deep interest in political affairs. He is, perhaps, a littlj 
too altruistic in his ideals, and too outspoken in regard to 
political methods to suit the average ward worker, whose motto 
generally is, "The end justifies the means." But Mr. Ridge's 
clear, practical sense, and experience in business affairs could 
not fail to be valuable to the people in public life, and he will 
undoubtedly make his mark in politics as he has in commercial 
pursuits. As a charter member of the Jackson County Demo- 
cratic Club, he was indefatigable in his labors for its success, 
and to him, as much as to any other man, is due its prosperity. 
He was elected treasurer of the club in 1901, and was warmly 
urged for president in 1902, but he declined to make the race 
in opposition to his friend, John M. Rood. Mr. Ridge is a man 
of quick and generous sympathies, kind and charitable to the 
unfortunate, loyal and devoted to his friends. 



145 



Oscar Koehler, engineer; E. B. McDill, wharfmaster; 
A. T. TToover, wliarf register; J. T. Brongliani, city 
clerk, J. Ji. lirothers, marshal; William Warner, city 
attorney; P. Lucas, C. A. Carpenter, recorders; Ed- 
mnnd Keller, marketmaster; councilman, John Camp- 
bell, Herman Hiicke; H. W. Cooper, E. A. Phillips, H. 
L. Hiihn, E. H. Spalding, J. W. Keeper, Henry Speers. 

1868. — A. L. Harris, mayor; George Sweeney, 
treasurer; J. B. Drinkard, assessor; Dennis O'Brien, 
auditor; John Donnelly, engineer; A. T. Hoover, whari- 
master; L. Dragon, wharfregister; D. E. Dickerson, 
city physician; F. B. McLean, F. J, Brougham, Mcll 
H. Hudson, city clerks; J. L. Keck, marshal; H. P. 
White, attorney; C. .\. Carpenter, recorder; Edward 
Keller, marketmaster; councilmen, William Smith, ]M. 
English, Junius Chaffee, J. W. Cook, H. Hucke, John 
Campbell, H. W. Cooper, E. A. Phillips, A. H. 
Waterman. 

1869. — F. R. Long, mayor; George Sw^eeney, treas- 
urer; Dennis O'Brien, auditor; C. F. Smith, assessor; 
John Donnelly, engineer; A. T. Hoover, wharfmaster; 
Mell H. Hudson city clerk; J. L. Keck, marshal; D. 
S. Twitchell, attorney; W. H. Sutton, recorder; D. E. 
Dickerson, city physician; councilmen, Junius Chaf- 
fee, C. J. White, J. AV. Cook, M. English, J. H. McGee, 
A. H. Waterman, T. J. Woolf, R. AY. Hilliker. 

1870. — E. M. McGee, mayor; George Sweeney, treas- 
urer; P. M. Chouteau, collector; Robert Salisbury, as- 
sessor; John J. Tobin, auditor; John Donnelly, en- 
gineer; A. T. Hoover, Avharf master; Daniel Greary, 



146 



city clerk; Thomas M. Speer^, marshal; H. P. White, 
attorney; C. A. Carpenter, recorder; H. F. Smith, mar- 
ket-master; D. E. Dickerson, city physician; conncil- 
men, Junins Chaffee, John Campbell, (\ J. AYhite. P. J. 
ITeim, J. H. McGee, John W. Keefer, D. Ellison, J. 
Lykins, T. J. Wolk, Thomas Burk, R. W. Hilliker, 
James E. Marsh. 

1871. -William Warner, mayor; Samnel Jarboe, 
Treasnrer; P. M. Chontean, collector; O. Channte, J. 
'J. Moore, engineers; John J. Tobin, anditor; Robert 
Sailsbnry, assessor; Daniel Greary, city clerk; J. W. 
Dnnlap, city attorney; D. A. N. Grover, recorder; T. 
M. Speers, marshal; W. C. Evans, city physician; R. 
C. Gould, market-master; John C. Gage, J. Brumback, 
counselors; councilmen, Junius Chaffee, John Camp- 
bell, William Weston, H. T. Hovelman, P. J. Heira, 
J. \y. Keefer, David Ellison, J. Lykins, Joab Toney. 
Thomas Burke, James Hannon, James E. Marsh. 

1872.— R. H. Hunt, mayor; H. C. Kumpf, auditor; 
Samuel Jarboe, treasurer; O. G. Lono-, recorder; Will- 
iam Shepard, marshal; John C. Campbell, attorney; 
H. B. Toelle, supervisor of registration; Daniel 
Greary, J. Enright, city clerks; J. M. Silvers, chief of 
fire department; Sam A\'inram, inspector of weights 
and measures; W. C. Evans, physician; H. L. Marvin, 
engineer; P. M. Chouteau, collector; R. C. Gould, mar- 
ket-master; Robert Salisbury, assessor; J. Brumback. 
counselor; W. A. N. Vaughn, wharmaster; J. T. Lever- 
idge, wood inspector; Charles F. Quest, E. H. Russell, 
superintendent of the work-house; councilmen. Michael 
Flynn, William Weston, Lyman McCarty, M. Hoover, 

147 




J. L. LINDSAY. 



J. L. LINDSAY 

was boru July 13, 1868, at Arrow Rock, Mo. At the age of sev- 
enteen young Lindsay took up his residence in Kansas City, 
where by strict attention to business and a rare faculty for 
making friends he has risen to the responsible position of man- 
ager of Guernsey & Murray's large branch store. 

In politics, Mr. Lindsay has never sought office, but he has 
done effective work in the ranks of the Democratic party and 
has contributed liberally to its success. He was one of the 
earliest members of the Jackson County Democratic Club, and 
gave that organization his loyal support during the doubtful 
days of its early life. 



149 




REES TURPIN, 



REES TURPIN 

was born May 4, 1869, in Carroll County, Mo. He graduated at 
the Carrollton High school and then took the academic and 
law courses at Washington & Lee University at Lexington, Va., 
graduating in law in 1892. While there he was president of the 
Graham Lee Literary Society, and vice-president and national 
delegate of the Kappa Psi fraternity. He was admitted to the 
bar in Virginia, and in Missouri in 1892, and came to Kansas 
City that year to practice. 

Mr. Turpin has never been a candidate for a political office, 
alchough his friends have urged him for several, notably for 
member of the upper house of the City Council. As a member 
cf the Jackson County Democratic Club, and especially as 
eiiairman of its entertainment committee, he has won a repu- 
tation for sound judgment and unusual executive ability. He 
devoted a great deal of time to the club when its fortunes were 
at their lowest ebb, and it was largely due to his efforts that 
the club's success was assured. Mr. Turpin is a sound lawyer 
and a good citizen, one of the kind to be relied on in times of 
trouble or danger. 



151 




THOMAS J. SEEHORN. 



THOMAS J. SEEHORN 

was born April 19, 1863, ar. Fall Creek, Illinois. His parents 
were Alfred and Martha Seehorn, highly respected citizens. 
Mr. Seehorn graduated at Chaddock College, Quincy, 111., in 
18S6, and came to Kansas City that year to practice his pro- 
fession as a lawyer. In 1892 he was appointed public admin- 
istrator for Jackson County, which position he held until 1900. 
During the eight years in which he held this delicate and re- 
sponsible office Mr. Seehorn grew greatly in the public's es- 
teem, especially in the eyes of the widows and orphans whose 
interests were confided to his care. He proved himself a sound 
lawyer and a careful conservator of others' interests, and 
above all, there was never a whisper of criticism or shadow of 
reproach upon a single act of his. 

Mr. Seehorn is more of a lawyer than a politician, but still 
he takes a lively interest in the affairs of his country, and dur- 
ing campaigns he is a hard worker and an effective adviser 
in the councils of the Democratic party. Solid in character 
and brains, courageous in his convictions, warm in his friend- 
ships and equally so in his political antagonisms, Mr. Seehorn 
Itas won a standing in the community which leaves him ripe 
for honors, political, or otherwise. 



153 



E. L. Martin, H. T. Hovelman, M. English, D. H. Por- 
ter, 1). Ellison, Patrick Kirby, Patrick Fay. 

1873. — E. L. ^rartin, mayor; D. H. Porter, record- 
er; H. C. Knnipf, anclitor; ^A'illiam Weston, treas- 
nrer; G. G. Neiswanger, marshal; M. H. Withers, at- 
torney; D. L. Hall, supervisor of registration; M. Mc- 
Cormick, superintendent of work-house; Webb With- 
ers, collector; H. L. Marvin, engineer; John Phillips,, 
"juarket-master; John T. P>lake, Robert Salisbury, as- 
sessors; E. H. Russell, sanitary sergeant; J. M. Sil- 
vers, chief of fire department; A. M. Crow, physician; 
A. Mayer, city clerk; James Sweeney, inspector of 
weights and measures; Thomas Clowdsley, T. McLean, 
wood inspectors; J. Brumback, counselor. 

1874. —S. 1). Woods, mayor; James Farrow, re- 
corder; H. 0. Ku)npf, auditor, P. M. Chouteau, Treas- 
urer; J. C. Tarsney, attorney; J. M. Ekdahl, super- 
visor of registration; F. M. Black, J. W. Dunlap, coun- 
selors; E. O'Flaherty, engineer; J. O. O'Day, physi- 
cian; W. B. Napton, comptroller; M. E. Burnet, chief 
of the tire department; F. Kitzpatrick, superintend- 
ent of the work-house; M. Ranahau, market-master; 
Hobci 1 Salislmiy, assessor; John R^an, inspector of 
weights and lueasures; A. Mayer, city clerk; Thomas 
Fox, license inspector; Thomas M. Speers, chief of 
police; councilmen, John Campbell. Joseph M. Beach, 

F. B. Nof singer, A. (\ Moffatt, D. A. N. Grover, Den- 
nis Levy, Charles A. Ebert, W. W. Payne, O. H. Short 
E. H. Wel)ster, P. Kirby, Edward Kelley. 

1875. — Turner A. Gill, mayor; P. M. Chouteau, 
treasurer; H. C. Kumpf, auditor; W. PI. Sutton, re- 

154 



forder; W. Adams, attorney; J. M. Ekdahl, siiper- 
Aisor of registration; 1). A. X. Orover, comptroller; 
John C. Gage, J. Brumback, counselors; James Dow- 
ling, superintendent of the work-house; aldermen, J. 
M. Beach, John Campbell, A. C. Moffatt, B. A. Feine- 
man, Dennis T.evY, G. W. Lovejoj, W. W. Payne, P. 
McAnany, E. H. Webster, J. W. Reid, E. Kelley, H. 
A. Simms. 

1876. — Turner A. Gill, mayor; P. M. Chouteau, 
treasurer; T. J. Talbot, auditor; W. H. Sutton, D. K. 
Nelson, recorders; W. Adams, attorney; J. M. Ekdahl 
supervisor of registration; J. Brumback, counselor; 
1). A. N. Grover. comptroller; Robert Salisbury, as- 
sessor; A. A. Holmes, engineer; Patrick O'Reilly, 
market-master; William C. Morris, physician: J. W. 
Wirth, superintendent of the work-house: John Kel- 
ley, inspector of weights and measures; A. Mayer, E. 
R. Hunter, city clerks; F. Foster, chief of the fire de- 
partment; Thomas M. Speers, chief of police; alder- 
men, John Campbell, W. S. Gregory, B. A. Feineman, 
D. R. Porter, Edward Lynde, G. W. Lovejoy, Dennii-; 
Levy, P. ^McAnany, James M. Buckley, J. W. Reid, Wm. 
Holmes, A. Simms, David P. Bigger. 

1877.— J. W. L. Slaveus, mayor; L. J. Talbot, audi- 
or; P. M. Chouteau, treasurer; D. Ellison, recorder; 
James Gibson, attorney; John M. Ekdahl, super- 
visor of registration; J. M. Dews, comptroller; H. N. 
Ess, counselor; Robert Salisbury, assessor; W. C. 
Morris, physician; F. M. Furgason, inspector of 
licenses, weights and measures; Joseph Porter, mar- 
ket-nmster; A\'. L. Shepard, superintendent of work- 

155 




E. B. SILK WOOD. 



E. B. SILKWOOD, 

chief clerk of the city engineer's office, was born August 18, 
1861, at Mulkeytown, Illinois. Obtaining his education in the 
common schools of his county, he graduated at the Carbondalp, 
Illinois, University. Fourteen years ago he removed to Kan- 
sas City where he has lived ever since. Upon Mayor Reed's 
election in 1900, Mr, Silkwood was appointed chief clerk in the 
city engineer's office, which position he has held and filled ad- 
mirably ever since. Mr. Silkwood is prominent and popular in 
union labor circles, and has been for three years president of 
the Retail Clerks' International Protective Association, Lo- 
cal No, 13, He is a charter member of the Jackson County 
Democratic Club and has given freely in time and money to 
make it a success. He was a most faithful member of the 
governing committee during the club's darkest days. 



157 




J. RAY SAMUEL. 



J. RAY SAMUEL 

was Lorn March 21, 1861, at Jefferson City, Mo. His family is 
nf Welsh and Scotch stock. His grandfather coming to Missouri 
in 1820 from Tennessee, was a large planter and stock-grower. 
His father was a merchant for thirty years and he platted and 
founded Cedar City opposite Jefferson City in Calloway County. 
Young Ray Samuel received a common school education and 
later graduated with honors at Quincy. Illinois. From 1882 to 
1885 he engaged in business with his father in Fulton, Mo., 
under the firm name of C. W. Samuel & Son. Removing to 
Kansas City in 1885 he was engaged in the real estate business 
until 1889. From 1889 to 1895 he was chief clerk in the depart- 
ment of streets for Kansas City. In 1895 he was appointed 
d(puty county clerk under Thomas T. Crittenden, Jr., and he 
has .held that position ever since. Mr. Samuel is the author ol' 
the present admirable system of bookkeeping in the county 
Clerk's office, a system which has resulted in the s/iving of 
thousands of dollars to the county. 

In 1900 Mr. Samuel with others organized the Faultless 
Laundry Company in Kansas City, at i72'6-8 Walnut Street and 
he has been its secretary ever since. 

Mr. Samuel is one of the most active members of the 
Jackson County Democratic Club, serving on all of its import- 
tint committees and doing his duty faithfully and well. A man 
of fine presence and genial manners, he makes friends readily, 
and with his Scotch virtues he grows with acquaintance. 

In November, 1901, Mr. Samuel married Miss May Small of 
Sedalia, a daughter of Dr. A. V. Small, who was a noted surgeon 
in the Confederate Army. Mrs. Samuel is an active member 
of the Daughters of the Confederacy. 



159 




B. F. BLACK. 



B. FRANK BLACK 

was born January 24, 1856, at Dayton, Ohio, but was brought 
to Kansas City in 1859. Obtaining his education in the public 
schools he entered the tobacco business and is now Kansas City 
manager for the great Stickney Cigar Company. Mr. Black 
has ahvays been a strong champion of the public schools and 
as president of the Ashland School Board for years he made a 
great fight for the educational interests of the people. His zeal, 
energy and integrity displayed in this capacity won him 
the respect and esteem of all classes of people, and his unfailing 
courtesy and fairness turned esteem into friendship with those 
who came into contact with him. Probably no man so modest 
and retiring was ever more popular and universally respected. 
Mr. Black is a charter member of the Jackson County Dem- 
•^cratic Club, and has served on its governing committee almost 
since its inception. He is an active Democrat and a man of 
iir^flinching independence. 



161 



lioiisc; \y. E. Boiisoii, cily clerk; A. A. Holmes, en- 
gineer; Thomas M. vSpeers, chief of police; F. Foster, 
ehief of fire deparhnent; Aldermen, W. kS. Ch-egory, 
IMiilip Casey, E. Lynde, K. H. Drennon, Dennis Levy, 
(\ (\ \Vhitm(\A'er, James M. Buckley, W. !>. Robinson, 
\\ illiam Holmes, A^^ H. AVinants, David P. I3igger, IT. 
A. Simnis. 

1878. — Gerge M. Shelley, mayor; A. C. WalmsUy, 
treasurer; \\'illia}n Vincent, auditor; Hamilton Fin- 
ney, i-ecoidei ; James (Jibson, attorney; Erasius 
'Johns, su{)ervis()r of registrilion; Robert Saiisbuiv, 
assessor; W. E. Renson, city clerk; W. L. Shepard, 
A\"illiani KeJky, supeii]i1(Midents of work-house; Jos- 
e]>h Poriei-, market-mastci ; .1. M. Trowbridge, en- 
gineer; H. (\ Kuinpf, comi>t roller; ^^^ \V. Payne, in- 
sp(n'tor of Mcenses, weights and measures; S. P. 
Twiss, counselloi-; A. ^l. Crow, physician; Thomas M. 
Speers, chief of ])olice, F. Foster, chief of fire depart- 
UKait; aldeiinen, Philip Casey, P. D. Eute, R. H. Dren- 
non, H. (\ Morrison, C. C. Whitmeyer, T. ^^^ Rutler, 
AV. R. Robinson, L. A. Allen, AA^ H. AVinants, Louis 
Diagon, H. A. Simi'is. A. H. (Jlasner. 

1 ST!).— (Jeorge Al. Shelley, mayor; A. (\ ^^'alnlsley, 
tiea.surer; AVilliam A'incent, auditor; Plamilton Fin- 
ney, recorder; Thomas King attorney; AL K. Kirk, 
supervisor of registration; T. A. Cill, counselor; IL 
C. Kumi)f, com[)troller; Robert Salisbury, assessor; 
\\\ E. Benson, city clerk; C. H. Knickerbocker, en 
gin«(M'; John Donnelly, assistant engineer; D. R. Por- 
ter, physician; William Burk, market-master; P.ene 
diet AA^aibel, inspector of liceiises, weights and meas- 

162 



ures; F. R. Allen, superintendent of work-house; 
Tliomas M. Speers, cliief of police; F. Foster, chief of 
fli-e (lei)artment; aldermen, P. D. Etue, George W. Mc- 
(nelland, II. C Morrison, J. N. DnBois, T. A\'. liutler, 
li. H. Maybiny, L. A. Allen, John Salisbury, Louis 
Dragon, T. B. BuHcikn A. H. Glasner, Patrick Hickey. 

1880.- -C. A. Chase, mayor; A. C. Walmsley, treas- 
urer; AVilliam Vincent, auditor; H. Finney, recordei : 
Thomas King, attorney; N. Burk, supervisor of reg- 
isl ration; W. Adams, counselor; John Donnelly, en 
gineer; Nathaniel Grant, comi)troller; T. D. Gallahan, 
city clerk; Thomas M. Speers, chief of police; F. Fos- 
ter, chief of fire dei)artment; Ilobert Salisbury, as- 
sessor; 0. J. Jenkins, physician; Adam Johns, in- 
spector of licenses; J. J. Grantield, market-master; 
F. K. Allen, superintendent of the work-house; alder- 
men, J. A. McDonald, T. B. Bullene, John Salisbury, 
George W. McClelland, AA\ J. Ross, J. N. Dubois, 
Patrick Hickey, J. N, Moore, R. H. Maybuiy, AV. G. 
Duncan, Louis Dragon. 

1881. — ]>aniel A. Frink, mayor; A. (\ Walmsley, 
treasurer; M. L. Sullivan, auditor; J. W. Cliilds, re 
(■order; W. J. Strong, attorney; M. H. Bass, supervi- 
sor of registration; D. S. Twitchell, counselor; Nat. 
Gi-ant, comptroller; Robert Salisbury, assessor; T. I). 
Callahan, city clerk; John Donnelly, engineer; A. A. 
Holmes, assistant engineer; John Fee, ])hysician; 
John J. Grantield, market-master; B. Waibel, inspec- 
tor of licenses, weights and measures; Thomas i\ 
Clary, superintendent of work-house; Thomas ]\L 
Speers, chief of police; F. Foster, chief of fire depart- 

163 




ALBX S. KAXKIN, 



ALEXANDER S. RANKIN 

was born May 20, 1868, in Scotland, the land of oatmeal and 
steady habits, where men grow sturdy and strong, with stern 
convictions of duty and the courage of them. And the subject 
( f this sketch, although thoroughly Americanized in the best 
sense of the term, does not belie his Scotch ancestry and train- 
ing. Coming to Kansas City sixteen years ago, young Rankin 
vvorked his way up in the face of many obstacles until he now 
runs his own business as a painting contractor. Notwith- 
standing the demands of his business he has found the time to 
make his life useful to others in many ways, serving two terms 
as secretary and treasurer of the Master Builders' Exchange, 
two terms as president of the Epworth League of Missouri, and 
president of the Master Painters' Association. 

Mr, Rankin was a charter member of the Jackson County 
Democratic Club, and was elected secretary in 1901, and was re- 
elected in 1902. 

Although never a politician, Mr. Rankin is as sturdy and 
upright in his Democracy, and as energetic in advancing its 
principles, as he is in his church work, or in his daily labors in 
business. Unlike the traditions of the covenanting Scotch, Alex. 
Rankin's marked characteristic is this toleration and charity 
towards others. Himself a strict churchman and as blameless 
and innocent as a young girl in thought and speech, he is re- 
markably liberal in his attitude towards his fellow-men, con- 
tenting himself by advancing his cause by example rather than 
Dv profession. And so, no young man in Kansas City stand.s 
higher in the esteem and love of those who know him than does 
Alex, Rankin. 



165 




WILLIAM WARNER. 



William warner 

was born in Lafayette County, Wisconsin, June 11, 1839. His 
parents dying he was thrown on his own resources and fron^ 
that time he worked at anything he could do. At the a-e of 
ton he secured employment in a store and for five years he'laid 
nside a portion of his meager earnings to enable himself to gpt 
ar education. He spent two years at college and then taught 
school by day and studied law at night. .Just as he was ad- 
mitted to the bar the Civil War broke out. He enlisted as a 
fu-ivate and was successively promoted to lieutenant, adjutant 
captam, and major of the Forty-fourth Wisconsin. His w-^r 
record has been endorsed since then by his election to the high- 
est offices in the gift of his comrades. He has been twice com- 
mander of the Department of Missouri G. A. R., and in 1888 w.-is 
unanimously elected commander-in-chief of that organization 
Major Warner came to Kansas City in 1865. Although an 
ardent Republican he was elect-d city attorney in 1S57 and 
circuit attorney in 1868. In 1870 ho was elected mavor— the sole 
truccessful candidate on his ticket. In 1875 he rose superior to 
party and supported Turner A. Gill, a Democrat, in his mem- 
orable campaign for mayor. 1885 he was elected to Congress 
and soon became one of the most influential members of that 
body. In 1892 he ran for governor of Missouri on the Republican 
ticket. In 1892 and 1896 he was delegate-at-large to the Na- 
tional Republican Convention. In 1898, although not a candi- 
date for the position, President McKinley appointed him United 
States District Attorney for the Western District of Missouri 
In 1902 he was endorsed by the Republican Convention of Jack- 
son County for United States senator. 

In politics Major Warner has shown the courage of his 
convictions and his manly independence in many instances 
notably in denouncing the A. P. A., which had control of hi. 
party in Kansas City, at the cost of certain defeat to himself. 
Major Warner is a born leader of men. a man of generous and 
noble impulses, and as an orator he is unsurpassed in the West. 

167 




HERBERT S. HADLEY. 



HERBERT S. HADLEY 

Was born twenty miles from Kansas City at Olathe, Kansas, on 
the ;20th of February, 1872. Kansas City was to him the "big 
city" of his boyhood experiences, and as soon as he com- 
pleted his college course at the University of Kansas and 
his law course at the Northwestern University Law School at 
Chicago, he came to Kansas City to begin the practice of the 
law. His advancement in his profession has been rapid and 
substantial. On January 1st, 1898, he was appointed first assist- 
ant city counselor, and as trial lawyer for the city had charge 
of all its litigation in the courts for three years. At the time 
he was appointed to this responsible position, the damage suit 
verdicts that had been rendered against the city has become an 
issue in the approaching municipal campaign, but under Mr. 
Hadley's conduct of the defense of these suits the city ceased 
to be mulcted and during his entire term of otRoe but six 
verdicts of over $1,000.00 in amount were rendered against the 
city, one of these being afterwards reversed on appeal and 
two are still pending in the Supreme Court. 

In 1900 he was nominated by the Republican party for 
prosecuting attorney and at the election of that year he was 
elected prosecuting attorney by about 2500 majority. His con- 
duct of the duties of the prosecuting attorney's office has been 
conscientious and able, and of him it can be truthfully said or 
the basis of actual record facts that he is the most success- 
ful prosecutor in the history of the county. Twenty one mur- 
der cases have been disposed of during the twenty-one months 
he has been in office and in only one case did the jury fail 
to convict and in that case the jury disagreed. Of the 128 
cases that he tried during his first twenty-one months in offir-e 
there were but six acquittals. 

. Mr. Hadley has always taken an active part in the literary 
and social life of Kansas City and in public enterprises. He 
is a member of the Commercial Club and ex-president of the 
Knife and Fork Club of which organization he was the found- 
er. He is also prominent in Masonic and Knights of Pythias 
circles. He was married on the 8th of October. 1901, to Miss 
Agnes Lee of this city. He has one child, a boy, born on th( 
23d of September, 1902. 

169 




GEORGE M. SHELLEY. 



GEORGE M. SHELLEY 

was born in Kentucky and moved with his parents to Tcwa in 
1849. He was educated in the public and high schools cf Keo- 
kuk, then took a course in the commercial college of Chicago 
and completed his education at Princeton. Then he took a 
trip overland to the Pacific coast and spent two years in China, 
Japan and around the world. In 1869 he started a grocery 
store in Kansas City, but changed to the dry goods business 
in which he has remained continuously for thirty-four years. 

In politics Mr. Shelley's life has been a busy, useful and 
varied one. Three times a police commissioner of Kansas 
City by appointment of Governors Crittenden, Marmaduke and 
Stone; three times nominated for mayor by acclamation and 
served twice; postmaster under President Cleveland; president 
of the upper house of the City Council by tha unanimous vote 
of the Republicans, although himself a Demooat; delegate tc 
every city and county convention held in Kansas City for 
thirty years. 

A rcck-ribbed Democrat, Mr. Shelley has never scratched 
a ticket nor varied a hair's-breadth in his fidelity to the prin- 
ciples of his party, no matter what the provocation. As mayor 
of Kansas City he gave his entire time to the duties of his 
office, and gave his salary to the poor. As postmaster he was 
appointed by President Cleveland who disregarded political 
pull altogether and looked only to the personal fitness of the 
man. Delegate to his party's convention for thirty years, a 
splendid tribut-,' from his neighbors to his personal worth and 
capacity for political leadership. 

Such men are a tower of strength to their party and to the 
community in which they live. 



171 



ment; aldermen, W. J. Hoss, J. M. Ford, J. A. McDon- 
ald, D. H. Porter, John W. Moore, James Anderson, 
L. A. Allen, John Salisbury, L. Dragon, B. A. Sheid- 
ley, \V. G. Duncan, M. Gafne3\ 

18S2. — James Gibson, mayor; L. B. Eveland, treas- 
urer; M. L. Sallivan, auditor; Charles M. Ingraham, 
recorder; W. J. Strong, attorney; Otto Salts, super- 
visor of registration; H. 1\ Langworthy, city clerk; A\'. 
B. Knight, city engineer; D. H. Porter, president of 
council; John Fee, physician; Nat. Grant, comptroller; 
George C. Hale, chief of fire department; aldermen, 
W. J. Ross, Charles Brooks, Sr„ A. G. Kisler, Jeffer- 
son Brumback, S. M. Ford, C. A. Brockett; Thomas 
M. Speers, chief of police. 

1S83.— T. B. Bullene, mayor; A. C. Walmsley, 
treasurer; M. L. Sullivan, auditor; George R. Jones, 
recorder; W. Adams, attorney; Otto Salts, supervisor 
of registration; H. P. Langworthy, city clerk; Wil- 
liam B. Knight, city engineer; Jorn Free, city physi 
cian; Nat. Grant, comptroller; Geo. C. Hale, chief of 
lire department; aldermen, W. J. Ross, Martin Regan, 
(jharles Brooks, Sr., A. R. Sweet, A. 0. Kesler; H. T. 
Hovelman, Jefferson Brumback, J. M. Patterson, S. 
M. Ford, John H. Reid, William Duncan, M. Gafney; 
Thomas M. Speers, chief of police. 

1884. — L. J. Talbot, mayor; L. B. Eveland, treas 
urer; Benjamin D. West, auditor; Charles M. Ingra- 
ham, recorder; John J. Campbell, attorney; George 
Sellman, supervisor of registration; George C. Hale, 
chief of tire department; W. Adams, attorney; alder- 
men, Martin Regan, Patrick O'Rouke, A. K. Sweet, 

172 



J. K. Davidson, H. T. Hovelman, A. G. Kesler, J. M. 
Patterson, John Salisbury, John H. Reed, J. M. Ford, 
Michael Gafnev, John McClintock; Thomas M. Speers, 
chief of police. 

1885. — John W. Moore, mayor; George AV. Jones, 
treasurer; Benjamin D. West, auditor; J. H. Worth- 
en, recorder; John J. Campbell, attorney; B. Waibel, 
supervisor of reoistration; George C. Hale, chief of 
fire department; H. P. Langvrorthy, city clerk; B. R. 
Whitney, city engineer; John Fee, city physician; 
Nat. Grant, comptroller; aldermen, James A. Finley, 
Wiley O. Cox, C. C. Wliitmeyer, George W. Tourte- 
lotte, Charles E. ^loss, Jolm Granfield; Thomas M. 
Speers, chief of police. 

188<^. — H. C Kumpf, mayor; Benjamin Holmes, 
treasurer; Benjamin West, auditor; Joseph J. Wil- 
liams, city attorney; Joseph H. Worthen, recordtM-; 
W. L. Hendershot, supervisor of registration; H. I*. 
Langworthy, city clerk; George C. Hale, chief of fire 
department; Thomas ^M. Speers, chief of police; alder- 
men, Maurice Hurley, John Keenan, Will J. Looney, 
D. P. Thompson, J. M. Patterson, Wallace Love, John 
H. Burke, Martin Kegan, Cornelius Maloney, H. I). 
Train, J. K. Davidson, E. W. Hayes, Will E. Ridge, 
Frederick Howard; John Fee, city physician; John 
Donnelly, city engineer; Nat. Grant, comptroller. 

1887. — ^Henry C. Kumpf, mayor; Benjamin Holmes, 
treasurer; Benjamin D. West, auditor; J. J. Daven- 
port, recorder; AA\ K. Hawkins, attorney; John Dolan, 
supervisor of registration; aldermen, John Grady, Will 

173 




WALTER M. DAVIS. 



WALTER M. DAVIS 

was born of Wt'lsh parentage in 1867 in Ebensburg, Pennsyl- 
vania. When he was five months old his parents moved to 
Livingston County, Mo., and his early school life was spent 
there. He served for eight years as deputy sheriff under T. 
G. McCarty, then as sergeant of police, next as county jailer, 
and finally as chief of police, the youngest chief in the United 
States at that time. 

In 1893 he left Colorado on account of sickness and came 
to Kansas City, where he soon became active and prcminent 
in politics. He served one term as street commissioner during 
Mayor Jones' administration and declined a second term. He 
was assistant postmaster under Colonel Sam F. Scott. 

In 1902 Mr. Davis was a candidate for the Republican 
nomination for mayor of Kansas City and was only defeated 
by a very small vote after a vigorous fight on him by the 
corporations. 

Mr. Davis began his career a poor boy without advantages 
or influence and by his industry, perserverance, and integrity 
has earned a comfortable position in the world, while as a 
politician hv is regarded as the shrev/dest organizer in the 
Republican party in Kansas City. Personally he is a loyal 
and generous friend, and an aggressive fighter against hyproc- 
risy and w^'ong-doing of any kind. He is very popular with 
the masses of the people and has a political future in Kansas 
City that will be worth watching. 

In 1890 he married Miss Lillian Coats, a daughter of 
George Coats of Pueblo, Colorado. They have two children, 
Walter M., aged 11. and Hazel, aged 5. He has two brothers, 
Webster and Harry. 



175 




JOHN TlAT.riN 



JOHN HALPIN, 

chief of detectives, was born August 15, 1865, in the Province 
of Quebec, Canada. His father was Patrick Halpin, now living 
in Kansas City, and his mother was Miss Marguerite Corrigan, 
a sister of Bernard Corrigan, also of Canadian birth. There 
were six children born of the union, three girls and three 
boys, of which the subject of this sketch was the third. He 
came to Kansas City with his parents at the age of eight, and 
obtained his education in the public schools and at Spalding's 
College, graduating in 1882. At the age of eighteen he was 
assistant cashier of the Corrigan Consolidated Street Railway 
System of Kansas City. In 1890 he was appointed deputy 
county marshal under Henry P. Stewart, and resigned in 18^2 
to accept a position as city detective in Mayor Cowherd's 
administration. On October 2il, 1897, he was appointed chief 
of detectives, which position he has held ever since. 

Mr.. Halpin made a splendid record as a private in the 
ranks, and as a chief he has earned the esteem and admira- 
tion of all classes of people by his skill, patience, earnestneso. 
and executive ability. He is one of the few men who know- 
how to handle men, to obtain the best results without noise or 
worry. In politics he is a Democrat but in his ofRcial capacity 
he knows no politics. 

He was married November 18, 1891, to Miss Mary J, 
Cooney of ivansas City, daughter of Edward Cooney, one ol 
the oldest and most efficient employees of the Missouri Pacifir- 
Railway Company. 



^T 




MARTIN R. GOSSETT, 



MARTIN R. GOSSETT, 

recorder cf deeds for Jackson County, and Democratic nomi- 
nee for re-eloction. was born April 11. 1857, in Bath County, 
Kentucky. His lineage is German on his father's side and 
English on his mother's. His father, the Rev. J. D. Gossett. 
was a Baptist minister, and so was his grandfather. In 1867 
he settled with his parents in Jackson County, Mo., near Inde- 
pendence, where they have resided ever since. After obtain- 
ing his. education in the Jackson County schools and in the 
High School at Independence, he engaged in the clothing busi- 
ness at 512-14 Main Street, Kansas City, for eighteen years un- 
til he was elected to his present office. In 1898 he received the 
Democrafic nomination for recorder of deeds, and it is a suf- 
ficient testimonial to his personal worth and popularity to say 
that Mr. Gossett was elected by the highest vote of any 
one on his ticket, and for the same reasoi; that Abuo Ben 
Adhem's name led all the rest, because he loved his fellow- 
men. Mr. Goss^'tt is a man of engaging manners v.'hich spring 
naturally from a warm heart, v/hich is the secret of his popu- 
larity. Mr. Gossett is a Knight Templar, Mason, Elk,. Modern 
Woodman, and is active in all charities. On March 15, 18§,1. 
he married. Miss Mary D. Carter, daughter of E. C. Carter of 
Kansas City, and they have three children, two girls and a 
boy. He and his wifs are members of the Twenty-second 
and Prospect Avenue Christian Church. 



179 




HENRY P. STEWART. 



HENRY P. STEWART, 

Democrat and Police Commissioner of Kansas City, was born 
in East Hartford, Connecticut, September 25, 1858. His father, 
John F. Stewart, came from Ireland at the age of 21, and 
settled at Hartford, Conn. His mother came from Ireland 
when a child of eight and settled in New Haven, Conn. Aftei 
his father's death in 1882' his mother removed to Kansas City 
to reside. 

He was educated in the public schools of Hartford, and 
graduted with honors at the Christian Brothers Academy at 
that place. Coming to Kansas City in 1877 he engaged in the 
coal business with J. H. Looney. In 1880 he went into the 
sand business and in 1897, Frank C. Peck, who was sperintend- 
ent of the Kansas City Cable Company, joined him, the firm 
becoming the Stewart & Peck Sand Company. The company 
does a large business, with three plants, one at First and 
Grand Ave, one at Twanty-third and Kaw River, and one in 
Argentine, Kansas. The company operates two steam dredges 
and a line of barges with each plant. 

Although essentially a business man Mr. Stewart has taken 
an active part in politics and has done his part manfully and 
well. In 1888 he was elected to the City Council from the 
Seventh Ward. He resigned during his second term to run 
for County Marshal and was elected in 1890 and re-elected in 
1892 on the Democratic ticket. In 1902 he was selected by 
Governor Dockery as police commissioner as the best man to 
hai-monize the troubles existing in. the local Democratic party, 
and it is sufficient to say that his appointment at once brought 
peace in the party and restored confidence in the police de- 
partment. 

In 1880 Mr. Stewart married Miss Minnie Duke, a daugh- 
ter of John P. Duke of Independence, Mo. They have five 
children, three boys and two girls. 



181 




JAMES PENDERGAST. 



JAMES PENDERGAST, 

Democratic alderman from the First Ward, was born in 1856 
in Gallipolis, Ohio. In 1857 he came with his parents to 
Buchanan County, Mo. His parents were of Irish stock, his 
father being Michael Pendergast, now deceased, and his 
mother, now living in St. Joseph, Mo. 

His education was obtained in the public schools of St. 
Joseph and at the Christian Brothers College at that place. 
In 1876 he removed to Kansas Citj^ and cast his first vote in 
the First Ward, where he now lives. He was employed at 
various times in the Keystone Iron Works, the A. J. Kelly 
Foundry, and the D, 1\I. Jarbne Foundry. He commenced busi- 
ness for himself in 1881. 

In 1892 he was elected to the city council from the First 
Ward and he has been re-elected practically without opposi- 
tion ever since. He is the oldest man in the city hall in point 
of service, in fact elder than the city hall itself, the first meet- 
ing of the city council after he was elected being held in the 
Beard of Trade building. 

Politically, Mr. Pendergast's prominence and influence is 
much greater than any councilman's probably ever was. The 
undisputed leader in his own ward, he is also the acknowl- 
edged leader of at least half of the Democrats of Kansas City 
and Jackson County. His place is the resort of the most dis- 
tinguished men in the party and he is courted and flattered 
enough to turn the head of any man of less rugged sense. 
Jim Pendergast— as his friends love to call him— is a master y 
organizer, a ke?a judge of men, a true friend and a generous 
foe. The secret cf his political influence is found in none of 
these qualities, however, nor in the power of money, his own 
or corporate, which is commonly the case in the politics of a 
great city. Neither does it rest in his big heart, and he has 
one of the biggest. His strength rests chiefly in the fact that 
he keeps his word and never breaks a promise. It is a common 
saying in Kansas City, "Jim Pendergast's word is as good as 
his bond." A rare virtue in any man, politician or otherwise. 



183 




T. M. NOBLE. 



T. M. NOBLE, 

lawyer and Democrat, was born in 1853 in DuBois County 
Indiana. His parents were Virginians of old English stock. 
In 1860 he came with his parents to Nodaway County, Mo. 
He graduated at college in Iowa and read law with E. W. 
Thomas at Brownville, Neb. He was admitted to the bar in 
Atchison County, Mo., by Judge Henry S. Kelly, and settled 
at Belleville, Kansas, where he soon sprang into prominence. 
For eighteen years he enjoyed the largest practice in North- 
ern Kansas. In 1896 he came to Kansas City, seeking a 
broader field for his talents, and has since confirmed his rep- 
utation as a successful and able lawyer. 

He was interested as counsel in the celebrated breach of 
promise case of Knight against Oscar Push, a $50,000 case for 
the plaintiff, and as prosecuting attorney of Republic County, 
he handled the famous Hubbell case against Sanford Sparks 
Voorhees, who was sent to the penitentiary for fifty years. 

Politically Mr. Noble is an ardent Democrat and was a 
charter member of the Jackson county Democratic Club. In 
1882, when there was no organized Democratic party in Re- 
public County, Kansas, he was elected county attorney on 
the independent ticket by 400 plurality in a county having 
1500 Republican majority. In 1884 he was endorsed for re- 
election by all parties and did not even go before any con- 
vention. He refused the nomination for a third term. In 
1893 he was elected mayor of Belleville, Kansas, and was in- 
strumental in the reorganization of the waterworks which ar«' 
now claimed to he the best in the State. 

Mr. Noble married Miss Robertson of Belleville, Kansas, 
and they have four children, two boys and two girls. 



185 




Dr. OEORCJK OLIVER COFFIN. 



DR. GEORGE OLIVER COFFIN 

was bcrn August 4, 1858, at Danielsville, Northampton County, 
Pennsylvania. His parents were Samuel T. and Lavina 
Siegenfuss Coffin. His father was a lineal descendant of 
Tristam Coffe<'. the founder of Nantuckeit and New Bedford, 
Mass., and the originator of the whaling industries of those 
towns. His mother was a great granddaughter of John Boyer, 
whose parents were among the earliest settlers of Pennsyl- 
vania, living in the Wyoming Valley at the time of the famous 
massacre. The mother and three children found refuge in the 
f^rt, the father being scalped by the Indians. 

George O.CofRn.the fifth in descent from him, was educated 
in the common schools of his native town and at Williams- 
buig Academy. When nineteen years of age he entered the 
Pennsylvania Medical College of Philadelphia, graduating ii. 
1879. He engaged in practice at Frankfort, Kansas, for five 
years and then r<>moved to El Paso, Texas., where he became 
contract surgeon and quarantine officer for the U. S. Govern- 
ment. He spi'Ut two years in Mexico and then removed to 
Silver CLft, Colo., where he practiced medicine for two years. 
In the fall of 1887 he located in Kansas City, where he is now 
a successful practitioneer. Here he took a post-graduate 
ccurcje at the Kansas City Medical College, receiving his de- 
gree of M.D., for the second time. In May, 1894, Mayor Web- 
ster Davis appointed house surgeon of the city hospital, and 
in May, 1895, he was appointed city physician, and held this 
pr.sition with distinguished success until 1902. 

In 1897 he was elected professor of surgery of the Medico- 
Chirurgical College and he is also dean of the faculty. He is 
also professor of clinical surgery in the Woman's Medical Col- 
leg- a member of the medical staff of the Frisco Railway 
hospital; consulting surgeon of the Kansas City Southern 
Railway; staff surgeon of the German hospital; consulting 
surgeon of the Douglas bos])ital of Kansas City, Kansas; 
medical director of the Kansas City Life Insurance Com- 
pany; member of the Kansas City Academy of Medicine. Jack- 
son County Medical Society, the Missouri State Medical 
Society and the American Medical Association. 

Dr. Coffin has been a consistent, life-long Republican, 
an is a 32 degree Mason, a noble of the Mystic Shrine, past 
chancellor of the Knights of Pythias and a member of the 
order of Elks. 

187 




W. T. KKMPKi! 



W. T. KEMPER 

was born Nov. 3, 1860 at Gallatin, Mo. His father, James M. 
Kemper, was of German ancestry. The family settled in Vir- 
ginia about 1600 and later moved to Kentucky, where his father 
was born. His father was for many years a member of the 
firm of Noyes, Norman & Co., shoe manufacturers at St. 
Joseph, Mo. His mother was a Paxton, of the Scotch descent, 
one of the oldest and most prominent families of the South. 
The subject of this sketch moved to Hamilton, Mo., where 
he lived until he was fourteen, and then removed to St. Joseph, 
where he lived until he was eighteen, completing his educa- 
tion there. At the age of eighteen he struck out for himself, 
going to Valley Falls, Kansas, and engaging in the general 
merchandise and banking business, which was very sucessful 
for seven years. Coming to Kansas City in 1893 he organized 
the Kemper Grain Company which he has sucessfuily con- 
ducted ever since. He is also the head of the Kemper Loan 
and Investment Co., in the Gibralter building, and owns three 
department stores, respectively at Topeka, Leavenworth and 
Valley Falls, Kansas. He is also the owner of considerable 
real estate in Kansas City, including the Whitney building. 

In 1900 Mr. Kemper was elected president of the Kansas 
City Board of Trade, the youngest man that ever filled that 
place. He has served as a director in the Commercial Club 
and is now a director in the Providence Association, director 
in the National Bank of Commerce, director in the Board of 
Trade, and now vice-president of its Clearing Company. He 
is a Mason, Knight Templar and Shriner. 

His first political work was in organizing the Democracy 
in Jefferson County, Kansas. In 1895 he became interested in 
politics in Kansas City and ever since he has been an active 
and enthuiastic worker, contributing his time and money to the 
success of his party. He was one of the most active supporter ^ 

189 



of Mayer Reed from his first campaign in 1900, and was chair- 
man of one of the rival Democratic County Committees which 
grew out of the split that fall. In 1901 he was unanimously 
elected president of the Jackson County Democratic Club, and 
under his administration the Club prospered greatly and be- 
came a powerful factor in the politics of Kansas City and 
Jackson County. Although he had never asked for any polit- 
ical office he was appointed police commissioner of Kansas 
City, February 12, 1902, by Governor Dockery. This unso 
licited honor was a high tribute to Mr. Kemper's standing in 
the community, being made at a time when the unsettled and 
feverish condition of affairs in the Democratic party in Kansas 
City required, and the press demanded, the appointment of a 
man, who would be politically, socially and in a business way, 
absolutely beyond criticism and above reproach. The appoint- 
ment restored confidence in Democratic circles, and gave en- 
tire satisfaction to the press and the public. 

Mr. Kemper is a man of the most charming manners and 
engaging address, a thorough gentleman and a keen, successful 
business man, but withal so democratic that he makes friends 
at sight with rich and poor, high and low alike. 

In 1890 he married Miss Lottie C. Crosby, daughter oC 
Rufus H. Crosby, a banker of Valley Falls, Kansas. They 
have three children, all boys. 



190 



J. Looiiey, George W. Lee, M. Welsh, A. W. Love, 
James A. Fiulav, Cornelius Maloney, AV. O. Cox, M. D. 
Wood, Frederick Howard, Maurice Hurley, Jobn Kee- 
nan, D. P. Thompson, J. M. Patterson, J. H. Burke, 
Martin Regan, H. D. Train, J. K. Davidson, E. W. 
Hayes, William E. Ridge; R. W. Quarles, counselor; 
John Donnelly, engineer; A. E. Thomas, comptroller; 
T. H. Edwards, assessor; H. P. Langworthy, city clerk; 
Frank SturdeA^ant, city physician. 

1888. — H. C. Kumpf, mayor; Benjamin Holmes, 
treasurer; Joseph J. Davenport, recorder; S. B. Win- 
ram, auditor; W. K. Hawkins, attorney; all Republi- 
cans except the treasure]-, who was a Democrat, and 
I he recorder, who was an Indejjendent. Aldermen: 
In the first ward, Harry L. Payne (R); second ward, 
John May (R|, and W. J. Looney (Dj; third ward, John 
McClintock (R); fourth ward, AV. T. Payne (D); fifth 
ward, Wallace Love (R), and D. H. Bowes (Ind); sixth 
ward, Martin Regan (D); seventh ward, C. AV. Keith 
(R), and J. J. Green (R); eighth ward, Robert Cary (D); 
ninth ward, F. A. Faxon (R); tentli ward, E. H. Phelps 
(R), and J. H. Ingram (D). Six niembers of the old 
council held over; they were James A. Finlay, M. D. 
Wood and G. W. Lee, Republicans, and John Grady, 
Milton Welsh and ^V. O. Cox, Democrats. 

18S1). — ^Mayor, Joseph J. Daveni)ort ; treasurer, 
\Vm. Peake; auditor, S. B. Winram; police judge, 
Michael Poland; attorney, W. K. Hawkins; counselor, 
L. C. Slavens; comptroller, A. E. Thomas; assessor, 
T. H. Edwards; clerk, Albert Phenis; physician, C. D. 

191 




JAMES BLACK. 



JAMES BLACK, 

lawyer and Democratic leader, was born April 6, 1860, at 
Camden, Ray County, Mo. His father, Jas. W. Black, came 
to Missouri in 1854 from Ohio, to which state he had moved 
from Pennsylvania. He was a prominent member of the Mis- 
souri legislature. Both of his parents were of Scotch descent, 
with the sturdy virtues for which that race is traditional. 

James Black attended the public schools of Ray County, 
Mo., and then one term at the Kirksville State Normal Col- 
lege. He then spent four years at the Missouri Stale Uni- 
versity at Columbia, graduating in 1881 with the degree of 
Bachelor of Arts. After teaching school in the Richmond, 
Mo., High School for two years he was elected assistant pro- 
fessor of modern language in the State University, and filled 
this chair for four years. He studied law meanwhile and in 
1887 entered the law office of W. S. Cowherd at Kansas City, 
where he studied a year. During 1888 and 1889 he occupied 
the chair of French and German in the Kansas City High 
School, and then entered upon the practice of law. In 1891 
he was appointed assistant city counselor, and in 1892 
entered the law office of Pratt, Ferry & Hagerman, and in 
1890 the firm became Pratt, Dana & Black. In 1898 he was 
appointed assistant attorney for the Kansas City, Fort Scott 
& Memphis Railway and performed all the duties of the office 
until Gen. Blair's death in 1899, when he was appointed to 
succeed him as general counsel. 

Politically Mr. Black is a straight-out Democrat. He was 
one of the organizers of the famous Aurora Club in 1892, which 
entertained so many noted Democrats of the nation. In 1900 
he was elected chairman of the County Committee and after- 
wards in 1902 he was chosen as chairman of the consolidated 
County Committee which paved the way for harmony in th«- 
party. He is a scholarly lawyer, a citizen of the class that 
have the courage of their convictions, and a Democrat from 
highest principle. 

193 




JESSE L. JEWELL. 



JESSE L. JEWELL 

was bora August 11, 1S69, on a farm in Crawford County, 
Kansas. At the age of four he moved with his parents to 
Kansas City, Mo., and his early school life was spent in the 
public schools there. At the age of fourteen he secured em- 
ployment with the Armour Packing Company, and after five 
years he became associated in business with the DeMoss 
Brokerage Company. Later he was associated in the publica- 
tion of the Hotel Gazette, in which he was successful for four 
years. 

In 1897 he was elected to the city council from the Third 
Ward and there he made a most creditable record. In 1900 he 
was further honored by being elected senator from Jackson 
County to the Missouri legislature. His standing in the com- 
munity was illustrated by the fact that although a Republi- 
can he was elected by a handsome majority in a Democratic 
Ward. In the senate he has ably represented his party and 
his constituents. He has been for years an officer in the 
Third Regiment of Missouri and is extremely popular among 
his comrades. He is now conducting a successful real estate 
business. 

Senator Jewell's father, Edwin F. Jewell, was a native of 
Massachusetts and came of good old English stock. He has 
lived for nearly thirty years in the Third Ward of Kansas 
City. His mother was a Lawton, a descendent of the blue- 
blooded Revolutionary stock. The family tree shows relation- 
ship by blood to General Nathaniel Green and General Jona- 
than Haskell of Washington's staff. She was also related to 
Major General Lawton, the famous Indian fighter and hero of 
the Philippine War. 

Senator Jewell is a bachelor, but the family ties are strong 
in him and manifest themselves in his devotion to and popu- 
laiity among his wide circle of friends. He is very loyal to 
them and the feeling is reciprocated by them. 



195 




JOHN P. GILDAY. 



JOHN P. GILD AY, 

Democratic nominee for sheriff, was born in 1862 at Indepen- 
dence, Mo. When he was seven years old his family 
moved to Kansas City, where he has since resided. At the 
age of ten he began the battle of life as a messenger boy, earn- 
ing his living while he obtained his education in the public 
schools and graduating at the Central High School at the age 
of sixteen. After some years spent in mercantile life he 
learned stenography and became one of the most exnert in 
the city. In 1896 he was appointed Court Stenographer in 
Division No. 3 of ihe Circuit Court and he has filled that posi- 
tion since with conspicuous ability. 

Mr. Gilday is a straight, consistent Democrat, always sup- 
porting the party's standard bearers, and always doing hard 
and effective work for the party's success. He has served as 
secretary of the Democratic City, County and Congressional 
Committees and his energy, tact and clear judgment have been 
conspicuous in every campaign for years in Kansas City and 
Jackson County. He is a man of singularly warm heart and 
unselfish disposition, and these qualities win friends wherever 
he goes. 

Mr. Gilday is a wide reader and has qualified himself for 
admission to the bar while performing the duties of Court 
Stenographer. He may be truthfully said to unite brightness 
of intellect with soundness in judgment. 

He was married in December, 1901, to Mrs. Maude Way- 
land Dean, of Kansas City. 



197 




WILLIAM H. WALLACE. 



WILLIAM H. WALLACE 

was born on a farm in Clark County, Kentucky. October 11, 
1848. He of Scotch-Irish decent, his ancestors having emi- 
grated from Ireland to Pennsylvania just before the War of 
the Revolution. His great grandfather served during the war 
as a captain under Gieorge Washington, and after its close 
settled in Virginia. His father, Rev. J. W. Wallace, an old- 
Ecliool Presbyterian minister, moved with his family to a farm 
near Lee's Summit, in Jackson County, in 1857, and the boy 
grew up amid the awful scenes of carnage, robbery and rapine, 
of which Jackson County was the theatre during the border, 
strife, the Civil War and the years of reconstruction. He 
worked as a farm-hand and attended the neighborhood schools 
until August, 1863, when, in compliance with order No. 11, 
his father, who had been reduced to poverty by the ravages 
of war, moved with the family to Fulton, Mo. There the sub- 
ject of this sketch obtained his education, graduating with 
honors at Westminister College in 1871, teaching school in the 
winter and working as a farm-hand in the summer to pay his 
college expenses. He studied lav/ under ex-Attorney-General 
John A. Hockaday, a relative, at Flilton, Mo., was admitted 
to practice, and then taught school and supported himself as 
a newspaper writer for three years while waiting for clients. 
His opportunity came in 1876, when he was engaged with 
Comings & Slover to defend Henry Cathey, tried for the mur- 
der of Nicholas Crenshaw. Major William Warner and John 
L. Peak were the lawyers for the prosecution. Little was 
known or expected of young W^allace, but when he finished 
his speech tears were in the eyes of the jury and the court- 
room rang with applause. Cathey was acquitted and Wal- 
lace's reputation as a lawyer and orator was established. 

In 1880 Mr. Wallace, who had moved to Kansas City, be- 
came a candidate for prosecuting-attorney of Jackson County, 
^'s opponent for the nomination being John C. Tarsney. '^oth 

199 



claimed the nomination after the primary and Mr. Wallace 
stumped the county denouncing the James band of out-iaws 
and pledging himself, if elected, to bring them to justice. His 
life was repeatedly threatened but he never faltered and was 
elected by 700 majority. Two months after he took office he 
began to redeem his pledge and within twelve months the gang 
was completely broken up. His speeches at the trial of Wil- 
liam Ryan, a member of the gang, at Independence in October, 
1881 and at the trial of Frank James at Gallatin in October, 
1883, were masterpieces of forensic oratory and have since been 
used in schools as models of declamation. He was re-elected 
prosecuting-attorney in 1882 after a hit contest, and com- 
pleted his great task of establishing law and order in Jackson 
County. Since then he has practiced his profession in Kansas 
City with the distinguished success that attends courage, splen- 
did ability and absolute integrity. He is now a candidate for 
the Democratic nomination for United States Senator, and 
if lofty patriotism and preeminent ability were guarantees he 
could not fail to get it. 






200 



McDonald; chief of fire department, George C. Hale; 
chief of police, Thomas M. Speers. 

Aldermen, Uppei' House. 

J. M. Patterson, president; J. F. Devenney, L. E. 
Wyne, D. P. Thompson, C. A. Kollert, S. M. Ford, F. 
Muehlschuster, J. S. Camion, J. N. Kimball, D. S. 
Twichell; Chas. Waters, sergeant-at-arms. 
Councilmen, Lower House. 

John Grady, H. L. Payne, Jolm May, A. P. Foley, 
John McClintock, A. X. Church, W. T. Payne, John 
Thomas, A. W. Love, D. H. Bowes, M. Regan, Con 
O^Sullivan, H. P. .Stewart, T. H. Walker, R. W. Cary, 
D. Pullman, F. A. Faxon, F. M. Hayes, E. H. Phelps, 

D. R. Ingraham; Joseph Glynn, seargent-at-arms. 

Board of PuNic Works. 
John M. Patterson, president; L. K. Thacher, 1*. 

E. Chappell, Fred Howard. 

1890. — Mayor, Benj. Holmes; treasurer, Wm. 
Peake; auditor, John G. Bishop; police judge, J. L. 
Wheeler; attorney, J. W\ Fraker; counselor, R. L. Yea- 
gcr; comptroller, Stanley Hohbs; assessor, Geo. ^^^ 
Lee; clerk, F. G. Graham; physician, E. R. Lewis; of 
fire department, Geo. C. Hale;chief of police, Thomas 
M. Speers. 

Aldermen, Upper House. 

J. S. Cannon, president; J. F. Devenne}', E. R. 
Hunter, C. L. Dunham, F. Muehlschuster, J. N. Kim 
ball, Carl Spengler, R. J. Johnston, \V\ C. Roberson, 
L. M. Miller, E. W. Toler, E. S. Jewett, M. L. Sullivan, 
J. T. Young; C. S. Curry, sergent-at-arms. 

201 




JOHN H. LUCAS. 



JOHN H. LUCAS 

was born February 6, 1852, at Danville Kentucky. As a boy he 
clerked in his father's store but soon displayed a love for the 
legal profession and he studied law by himself at nights until 
he was nineteen, when he located at Osceola, Mo. He was 
admitted to the bar in 1872, when Southwest Missouri was 
in process of settlement, and his professional services were 
in instant demand. In 1874 he formed a partnership with 
Wm. T. Johnson and the firm was employed in nearly all of 
the important cases in Southwestern Missouri. In 1879 the 
firm opened an office in Kansas City and Mr. Johnson located 
here to take charge of the business. In 1883 his brother, 
William H. Lucas, was admitted to the firm, which has grown 
in practice and in professional prestige ever since. 

Mr. Lucas is noted for his cordial manners and gentle, 
kindly ways. But beneath the glove of silk there is a hand 
of iron. As a lawyer his gentleness conceals a keen intellect 
and relentless determination, as many an unwilling witness 
and opposing counsel discover too late. He excels in thorough 
analysis, not only of the facts, but of tha law as applied tn 
the facts. His firm still controls a large part of the lesal 
business of St. Clair County as well as other portions of 
Southwest Missouri. In Kansas City the firm represents 
some of the largest corporations in the State, notably the 
Metropolitan Street Railway Company. 

As a Democrat Mr. Lucas has been an active and enthusi- 
astic supporter of his party but his devotion to his profession 
has hitherto kept him from accepting any but honorary polit- 
ical positions. He was presidential elector in 1888 and stumped 
the State for the Democratic ticket. 

In 1870 Mr. Lucas married Miss Nannie Cardwell ot 
Harrodsburg, Ky. They have four living children. 



203 




CLARENCE S. PALMER. 



CLARENCE S. PALMER, 

was born in Chatauqua County, New York, in 1857. He re- 
ceived his education at Maysville and Westfield, N. Y., and 
graduated with honors at Hamilton College in 1879. He was 
admitted to the bar in 1881 and has practiced his profession 
in Kansas City since 1885. He makes a specialty of munici- 
pal law, corporation law and real estate law and is considered 
one of the safest counselors at the Kansas City bar, his ser- 
vices being retained by some of the largest corporations in the 
country. 

In 1894 he was appointed assistant city counselor by Frank 
F. Rozelle, Democrat, and he was re-appointed by Judge H. 
C. McDougal, Republican, on account of his special fitness 
and proved ability. 

In politics Mr. Palmer is a strong Democrat, but he has 
never been a candidate for political office. He is regarded 
among the members of his profession as having the judicial 
temperment and cool judgment which are particularly adapted 
to the bench. 

Personally is one of the kindest and most genial of men, 
polished, courteous and gentle to a degree. 



205 




J. J. SWOFFORD. 



J. J. SWOFFORD. 
president of the Swofford Brothers Dry Goods Company, was 
born Atigust 25, 1852, on a farm near Benton, Illinois. His 
father, J. J. Swofford, was a lineal descendant of one of three 
brothers who came to this country from Wales in the early 
part of the eighteenth century, settling in South Carolina. J. 
J. Swofford, Sr., moved to Benton, 111., and engaged in the 
milling business and was for a time sheriff of the county. He 
was killed in an explosion in the mills when young Swofford 
was eight j'-ears of age. At the age of twelve the boy was, 
on account of the condition of family affairs, compelled 
to quit school and help to support the family, he being the 
eldest son in a family of five children, three boys and two 
girls. He began working in a general retail store and con- 
tinued steadily until he was eighteen, when he left the family 
at Benton and went to Shawneetown, 111., the second oldest 
town in the State. There he worked in a retail store until he 
was twenty-two, when he embarked in business for himself. 
In a short time his brothers joined him and the firm of Swof- 
ford Brothers came into existence. The firm prospered and 
ere long began to look for a larger field for operating. In 1888 
when the opportunity came to purchase a share in the W. B. 
Grimes Wholesale Dry Goods Company, of Kansas City, Mr. 
Swofford embraced it. disposing of his retail business. In 
1891 the Swofford brothers obtained a controlling interest and 
incorporated under the present firm name. 

In 1887 Mr. Swofford married Miss Fay R. Powell, 
daughter of William Powell one of the oldest residents of 
Shawneetown. They have throe children living, Ralph Powell 
Swofford, twenty-three years, who graduated at Central High 
Schocl at the age of eighteen, and later at Princeton; Helen, 
eighteen years, now at Mrs. Somer's school at Washington, 
D. C; and J. J. Swofford, Jr., aged nine years. 

Mr. Swofford is a Democrat and has always been a loyal, 
earnest, hard party worker, although never a seeker after of- 
fice. He was chairman of the committee of prominent citi- 

207 



zeiis that went to Washington, in 1900 and secured the Demo- 
cratic National Convention for Kansas City. He also man- 
aged the local committee which had charge of the con\entior,., 
and the work was done so well that the convention was the 
plecsantest and most successful in the history of the party. 

At present Mr. Swofford is president of the Kansas City 
Park Board, having been appointed by Mayor Reed during his 
first administration. He is a Mason of high degree, and also 
president of the Manufacuturers' Association. 

He has been frequently suggested as the Democratic 
nominee for Mayor in 1904, and with his affable manners, ex- 
ecutive abilty, clean record, and high business standing he 
would be a formidable candidate and an ideal Mayor. 



208 



Councilmen, Lower House. 
John Grady, A. P. Foley, A. N. Churcli, John 
Thomas, Dennis Bowes, Con O'Sullivan, H. P. Stew- 
art, D. Pullman, F. M. Hayes, J. A. Brinkley, John 
Tobin, Geo. Hoffman, C. E. Coblentz, J. W. Hum- 
phrey. Joseph Glynn, sergeant-at-arms. 

Board of Public WorJcs. 

J. S. Cannon, president; \A^m. Weston, J. H. Beck- 
ham, W. A. Kelly. 

1892.— Mayor, W. S. Cowherd; treasurer, I.. B. 
Eveland; auditor, Henry Crawford; police judge, 
Frank Johnson; attorney, J. W. Fraker; counselor,' 
F. F. Rozollc; comptroller, Benj. Holmes; assessor, 
Jas. A.'Keel; clerk, F. G. Graham; physician, E. R. 
Lewis; chief of fire department, Geo. C. Hale; chief 
of police, Thomas M. Speers. 

Peter H. Tiernan, president; E. R. Hunter, Wm. 
Huttig, F. Muehlschuster, J. N. Kimball, Carl Speng. 
ler, R. J. Johnston, F. J. Shinnick, Oscar Dahl, J. H. 
Butter, A. P. Schueman, sergeant-at-arms. 

Councilmen, Lower House. 

James Pendergast, A. P. Foley, F. C. Gunn, C. A. 
Young, John Fitzpatrick, Martin Regan, Jas. A. Hays, 
Frank Phillips, Geo. O. Warnecke, Jos. R. Brinkley. 

Joseph Glynn, sergeant-at-arms. 

Board of PuUic Woi'ks. 

Peter H. Tiernan, president; Chas. A. Rollert, Geo. 
Holmes, John Taylor. 

209 




WILLIAM S. GOODWIN. 



WILLIAM G. GOODWIN 
was bcrn October 10, 1861, at Pulaski, Tennessee. His parent^^ 
were both Tennesseeaus. His father, W. J. Goodwin being a 
prominent miller. After attending the schools at Pulaski and 
Nashville, Tenn., and later at Mansfield, Texas, he graduated 
at the Smith Ragsdale College near Fort Worth. He learned 
his trade in the machine shops of the Texas and Pacific and 
Sciithern Pacific railroads and served as engineer and master 
mechanic of a division on the latter road. He resigned this 
position to accept the post of assistant engineer of the Houston 
waterworks and after a year's service he was made chief 
During his term of office he reconstructed the entire works. 
He resigned this position to become chief engineer of the Dal- 
las waterworks-a larger plant-and while there built new 
works for the city consisting of engines, boilers, buildings and 
two large reservoirs. After five years of service he accepted 
the position of erecting engineer for the Edward P. Allis 
Company, the largest engine company in the world. In 1892 
he came to Kansas City and became chief engineer of the 
Kansas City Cable Company. Upon the consolidation eigh^ 
teen months later, he resigned to become chief engineer' of the 
Hall building, where he installed the first independent electric 
light and heating plant in the city. In July, 1900, he was ap- 
pointed by Mayor Reed to his present position as chjef en- 
gineer of the Water department of Kansas City. He was also 
appointed superintendent of the department, but was not con- 
firmed by the city council until several months later. 

In politics Mr. Goodwin is a Democrat, and is a charter 
member of the Jackson County Democratic Club. In his of- 
ficial position, however, he makes but one requirement, name^ 
ly, efficiency. 

Mr. Goodwin married Miss Izora Cupp, daughter of James 
Cupp, a prominent planter of Monroe, La. They have five 
children. 



211 




W. B. CLARK. 



WILLIAM BINGHAM CLARKE 

was born in Cleveland Ohio, on the 15th day of April, 1848. 
He is a son of the late Aaron Clarke, a native of Milford, 
New Haven County, Conn., and Mrs. Caroline Bingham 
Clarke, a native of Andover, Tolland County, Conn. Through 
his ancestry on both sides of the family he is a member o^* 
the Sons of the Revolution and also of the Society of Colonial 
Wars. He is a prominent Episcopalian; is treasurer of the 
Diocese of West Missouri, which office he has held since thg 
Diocese was organized, and has many times been elected a 
delegate to the Episcopal General Trienniel Convention. He is 
a 32 degree Scottish Rite Mason and Knight Templar. He has 
twice been elected president of the Kansas City Club, and 
once president of the Country Club. He has served as third 
second and first vice-president of the Commercial Club, and 
in 1891 was elected president of that organization, but on ac- 
count of his private business was obliged to decline the honor. 

In 1896 the "free silver" agitation was spreading over the- 
county and Mr. Clarke saw the danger to the business inter- 
ests of the country which were threatened should the "free 
silver" agitation succeed at the poll, and he threw heart and 
soul into the campaign. He was elected president of the Sound 
Money League, a body composed of a membership of over 17,- 
000 registered voters (out of some 31,000 total resristered 
voters that year). This league was officered by prominent 
business men of Kansas City, both Democrats and Republi- 
cans. The vice-presidents of the league were the following 
well-known Democrats and Republicans: J. K. Burnham, G. 
F. Putman, .7. M. Patterson, W. C. Glass. M. D. Scruggs, M. 
V. Watson, W. R. Nelson, Ernest Stoeltzing, Frank Muehl- 
schuster and B. C. Christopher. The treasurer was Mr. John 
Perry and the secretary Mr. W. A. Bunker. 

The real hard work was done by the Executive Committee 
of which M. Clarke was chairman and Messrs, J. K. Burnham, 

213 



G. P. Putman, P. H. Tiernan, P. S. Doggett, John Perry and 
Gardiner Lathrop were members, with Mr. H. H. Cooke as 
secretary of this committee. This committee joined in the 
appointment of all other committees selecting men for the 
especial work assigned with great care, irrespective of party 
so long as they were for sound money. The success of all the 
work done by the various committeees was remarkable in its 
.effectiveness and in the skill with which this committee chose 
the right men for the right places. The Parade Committee 
with Mr. Wm, H. Winants for chairman and Mr. Jno. P. 
Eaton chief marshal with 100 aides carried out its work most 
successfully, having in line of parade numbers variously esti- 
mated by the newspapers at from 12,000 to 20,000. The flags 
used by the parades which were distributed to them on the 
morning of the parade numbered 19,000. Eighty speakers were 
constantly addressing voters in all parts of the city and 
western half of Missouri. Special trains covering this terri- 
tory with speakers assigned for advertised points, accompanied 
by bands of music, were kept going for weeks prior to the 
election. The result of this organization so well and thor- 
oughly perfected by Mr. Clarke and the men he called in to 
his assistance, was the changing of ever 8,000 Democratic or 
"Bryan" votes to McKinley, the representative of sound 
money. The commercial advantage to Kansas City through 
this work was very great. It showed to the business world 
that notwithstanding the fact that the states of Missouri and 
Kansas with their rural vote were in favor of "free silver," 
nevertheless the business men of Kansas City wer(> right in 
their views, and they maintained the integrity of the com- 
mercial supremancy of Kansas and its trade territory. 

After the felection, Mr. Clarke was besieged by political 
ofTicer seekers, but he declined the opportunity to make him- 
self a political boss and promptly withdrew from activ( polit- 
ical work, much to the gratification of professional politicians 
who would have feared him had he continued in active 
politics. 

Mr. Clarke is a member of the Advisory Board of the Na- 
tional Republican Committee, for Missouri, and is sought in 

214 



counsel by the various Committeees of the Republican party 
of the National Committee as well as the State Congressional 
and Local Committees. 

While not seeking political preference for himself he is 
always ready to assist — in work and money — the election of 
suitable and proper men to office. This he considers a duty 
all business men owe to their citizenship. 

Mr. Clarke is a member of the bar, but has alwavs fol- 
lowed his chosen calling of banking. He is president of The 
United States Trust Company of Kansas City, Missouri, and 
while at times he has been active in politics as a Republican — 
particularly in National politics — and though many times 
tendered him — has never accepted a political office. 

Before coming to Jackson County, Mr. Clarke (alwavs a 
Republican) resided in Kansas for many years, most of which 
time the State was largely Republican and although he was 
at various times tendered nominations for offices of honor, he 
never would accept, but confined his political work to being 
a supporter of the party and aiding it in every way possible. 



2lb 




JOHN SULLIVAN, 



JOHN SULLIVAN, 

lawyer, Woodman and Democrat, was born February 10, 1864. 
at Louisville, Kansas. His father, who was of Irish birth, 
was a prominent farmer and stock-raiser in Central Kansas, 
removing to that State from Connecticut in 1857. His moth- 
er, a native of Wisconsin, was of German parentage. His 
education was obtained in the common schools of Pottawat- 
omie County, Kansas, and later at the State University at 
Lawrence, where he graduated in law in June, 1887. He i^ 
a member of the alumni of the Kansas State University. 

In 1887 Mr. Sullivan came to Kansas City to practide law, 
and he has occupied the same office for fourteen years, ten 
years of that period being associated with the Hon. Thomas 
M. Spofford. Mr. Sullivan has always taken a great inter- 
est in politics, having campaigned the State several times, 
but he has never been a candidate for any political office. 
He was appointed as a representative of the United States 
Treasury Department in the construction of the Kansas City 
Federal building, and he is proud of the distinction of hav- 
ing been the first man to be removed on the day following 
the election of William McKinley in 1896. His offense in the 
eyes of the Cleveland administration was too great activity 
in campaigning in behalf of William J. Bryan. 

Mr. Sullivan has always been a warm friend of educa- 
tion, and organized the University Extension Society, serv- 
ing as its secretary for four years, and lecturing in the West- 
ern States. Mr. Sullivan is a prominent Woodman, and has 
toured the West in their behalf. He is a man of scholarly 
attainments and great force of character, and a cogent 
speaker and debater. 



217 



1894. — Mayor, Webster Davis; treasurer, John J. 
Green; auditor, John G. Bishop; police judge, James 
M. Jones; attorney, C. E. Burnham; counselors, F. F. 
Kozzelle, H. C. McDougall; comptroller, John F. Shan- 
non; assessor, J. A. Reel, C. C. Yost; clerk, C. S. Cur- 
ry; physician, A. M. Crow, G. O. Coffin; chief of fire 
department, Geo. C. Hale; chief of police, Thos. M. 
Speers. 

Aldermen, U^jper House. 

Peter H. Ticrnan, president; Wm. Hutty, R. J. 
Johnston, F. J. Shinnick, Oscar Dahl, Frank Phillips, 
H. C. Morrison, L. E. Wyne, W. W. Morgan, George 
Eyssell. 

A. P. Schuerman, sergeant-at-arms. 

Councilmen, Lower House. 

James Pendergast, John Morau, John Reiger, A. 
D. Craig, A. B. Olsen, Martin Regan, W. T. Jamison, 
P. S. Brown, Jr., D. E. Stoner, J. W. Kidwell. 

C. S. Curry, sergeant-at-arms. 

Board of Public Worlds. 

P. H. Tiernan, president; John C. Gage, L. H. 
Thacher, L. C. Slavens. 

1896. — Mayor, James M. Jones; treasurer, John 
J. Green; auditor, John G. Bishop; police judge, F. W. 
Griffin; attorney, C. E. Burnham; counselors, H. C. 
McDougal, R. B. Middlebrook; comptroller, John F. 
Shannon, Hans Lund; assessor, C. C. Yost; clerk, G. 
S. Curry; physician, G. O. Coffin; chief of fire depart- 
ment, Geo. C. Hale; chief of police, L. C. Irwin, John 
Payes. 

218 



Aldermen, Upper House. 

George S. Graham, president; R. J. Johnston, W. 
W. Morgan, George Eyssell, H. C. Morrison, C. K. 
Munson, J. E. Jewell, Jno. T. Seddon, L. E. Wyne, P. 
S. Brown, Jr. 

Wm. Clough, sergeant-at-arms. 

Councilmen, Loiuer House. 

James Pendergast, J. J. Wolf, S. B. Hough, R. D. 
Craig, Jas. O. Beroth, John P. Lynch, N. P. Simonds, 
Frank Brinkley, James G. Smith, A. D. Bnrrow^s. 

W. D. Scoville, sergeant-at-arms. 
Board of Public Worlcs. 

Geo. S. Graham, president; Geo. P. Hardesty, Geo. 
J. Baer, Geo. W. Yoiimans. 

1898. — Mayor, James M. Jones; secretary, E. Mont 
Reily; treasurer, J. Scott Harrison, Jr.; auditor, T. C. 
Bell; police judge, C. E. Burnham; attorney, D. A. 
Brown; counselor, R. B. Middlebrook; comptroller, 
Hans Lund; clerk, C. S. Curry; physician, G. O. Coffin; 
chief of fire department, Geo. C. Hale; chief of police, 
John Haj'es. 

Aldermen, Upper House. 

George S. Graham, president; A. F. Batt, John E. 
Laeh, Frank C. Peck, H. M. Gerhart, S. B. Hongh, W. 
W. Harnden, E. S. Jewett, H. M. Beardsley, C. N. 
Munson, J. E. Jew^ell, Jno. T. Seddon, L. E. Wyne, P. 
S. Brown, Jr. 

Wm. Clough, sergeant-at-arms. 

Councilmen, Lower House. 

James Pendergast, Jno. Mor^n, J. L, Jewejl, Glaus 




JAMES FAIR WEATHER. 



JAMES FAIRWEATHER, 

Democratic nominee for Justice of the Peace in the Fifth 
District, comprising the Tenth, Eleventh and Twelfth Wards, 
was born in Lexington, Mo., in February, 1862. He worked 
on a farm until he was seventeen. In 1879 he came to Kan- 
sas City and secured an apprenticeship with the Grimes' 
Wagon Mfg. Company as a blacksmith. He attended night- 
school, and, graduating in shorthand, secured a position with 
the abstract firm of Dean S. Kelly & Co., where he remained 
seventeen years. While in their employ he attended the night 
sessions of the Kansas City School of Law, from which he 
graduated in 1898. Shortly after he began the practice of 
law, and in 1900 was elected to the lower house of the City 
Council from the Tenth Ward. In June, 1902, he was nom- 
inated at the Democratic County Convention for justice of 
the peace for the Fifth District. 

Surely an honorable record of patience, courage and in- 
flexible determination, not only to rise, but to do his duty 
in each step in life. Mr. Fairweather is well equipped for 
the office of justice of the peace, and he especially deserves 
the hearty support of the Labor Unions, as he is in full sym- 
pathy with them. 



221 




THOMAS M. SPOFFORD. 



THOMAS MARTIN SPOFFORD 

was born February 18, 1863, at New Orleans, La. He comes 
of an old English family. His father, Thomas Martin Spof- 
ford, was chief justice of the Supreme Court of Louisiana, 
and United States senator from that State. His mother was 
a daughter of Thomas Martin, a member of President Polk's 
cabinet. His uncle, A. R. Spofford, was for many years libra- 
rian of Congress. 

His early education was obtained in New Orleans, after 
which he graduated at Columbia College, New York, and also 
obtained his degree at the Law Department of that univei'- 
sity. Mr. Spofford settled in Kansas City, and made exten- 
sive investments in real estate, being a man of considerable 
wealth. In 1896 he was elected to the State legislature of 
Missouri, where he made an excellent record. In October, 
1898, he was married at Lincoln, Neb., to Miss Bebe Wood, 
a native of Kansas City and the daughter of the Hon. Ben- 
jamin F. Wood, one of the early and well-known citizens. 
In 1900 he was elected president of the upper house of, the 
Common Council of Kansas City. Owing to broken health, 
he resigned in October, 1901, and started with his family on 
an extended trip around the world. Mr. Spofford's home at 
Twenty-fifth Street and Lydia Avenue is one of the hand- 
somest in Kansas City. 

Mr. Spofford is a charter member of the Jackson County 
Democratic Club, and has always been prominent and active 
in Democratic politics. Personally, he is a good speaker, a 
sound scholar and a gentleman of most engaging manners. 



223 




WASH ADAMS. 



WASH ADAMS, 

Democrat and lawyer, was born April 16, 1849, at Boonville 
Mo., of Scotch-Irish stock. His father, Andrew Adams, was 
from Christian County, Kentucky. His mother was Miss 
Sarah Flournoy, of Independence, Mo. His grandmother on 
his father's side was a sister of Chief Justice Boyle, of Ken- 
tucky. He was named for his uncle, Washington Adams, who 
was a judge of the Supreme Court of Missouri. 

Wash Adams' early education was obtained at the Kem- 
per School at Boonville, after which he took a three-years 
course at the University of Virginia. Returning to Boonville, 
he studied law in the office of his uncle. Judge Washington 
Adams, and was admitted to the bar in 1870. He began the 
practice of his profession in Kansas City in July, 1870, and 
soon won an enviable position among the fine lawyers who 
graced the Jackson County bar at that period. 

In 1874 Mr. Adams was elected city attorney of Kansas 
City, and he was re-elected in 1875 at the exciting election 
in which the citizens arose and named their best men for 
public office. In 1880 he was appointed city counselor by 
Mayor Talbott, and was re-appointed by Mayor Chace in 1884. 
In 1892 he was appointed county counselor, arid re-appointed 
in 1894. He has repeatedly served as chairman of the Dem- 
ocratic City Committee, and as chairman of the County Com- 
mittee he managed the Democratic forces during the mem- 
orable campaign in which D. R. Francis was elected governor. 

Sound in judgment, a deep reasoner, a hard student and 
a fine advocate, Mr. Adams stands in the front rank of the 
Kansas City bar, ranking as a lawyer with such men as John 
C. Gage, John L. Peak,. W. H. Wallace and C. O. Tichenor. As 
a man he is high-bred, frank, manly and democratic in his 
manners. 

In June, 1877, he married Miss Ella Lincoln, daughter 
of John K. Lincoln of Plattsburg, Mo. They have one child, 
John W. Adams, who is now in his third year at Harvard. 

225 




^^ ^p^ 



3 
t 

^ 



\ 




WALTER S. DICKEY. 



WALTER S. DICKEY, 

president of the W. S. Dickey Clay Mfg. Co., and proprietor 
of several large sewer-pipe and clay-working plants, has been 
an actiA^e worker in Republican politics in Western Missouri 
for ten years. He is one of the few business men who believe 
it is the duty of every man interested in commercial affairs 
to take active interest in local. State and national politics. 

Raised in Toronto, Canada; educated in the provincial 
"Model" school; located in Kansas City in January, 1885; took 
out citizenship papers immediately; served on the Republi- 
can City Committee in 1886; removed to Independence, this 
county, in 1887, and lived there until 1898. While there was 
vice-president of the Harrison-Morton Campaign Club of 1888. 
Was a delegate to both State conventions in 1896; was chair- 
man of the Blue Township delegation in the county conven- 
tion of 1896. 

Mr. Dickey served one term as treasurer of the Republican 
County Committee, and through his business administration 
of the office reflected credit upon himself and the committee. 

In 1900, having again established his residence in Kansas 
City, he W3.s elected as a delegate from the Fifth Congres- 
sional District to the Republican National Convention at Phil- 
adelphia, and was there honored by being selected as Mis- 
souri's member on the Vice-Presidential Notification Commit- 
tee. In July, 1900, in company with that committee, he vis- 
ited Mr. Roosevelt at his home in Oyster Bay, on Long Island, 
New York State. 

Mr. Dickey's well-known ideas of running politics along 
business lines so appealed to the party that, in Septen'.- 
ber, 1900, he was selected chairman of the Republican County 
Committee of Jackson County. He organized the party along 
strict business lines, making a perfect poll of the city, and 



227 



a close check on registration. For the first time for over a 
quarter of a century, every nominee on the Republican County 
ticket was elected. The campaign of 1900 was notable for the 
comparatively few public meetings, but these few were of the 
highest order. 

President Roosevelt was secured to deliver one of his mas- 
terly addresses before an audience of 25,000 people in Con- 
vention Hall, just before election. Senator Beveridge, of Indi- 
ana, and Governor Leslie M. Shaw, of Iowa, were the princi- 
pal speakers at two of the largest meetings ever held in the 
county. 

In July of 1902 he was elected as member-at-large of the 
State Republican Committee, and was appointed as a member 
of the Executive and Finance Committee. 

Although Mr. Dickey has constantly taken active part in 
politics, he has at the same time conducted one of the largest 
commercial enterprises carried on in the West. The W. S. 
Dickey Clay Manufacturing Company, of which he is presi- 
dent, has general office and one large plant in Kansas City. 
Two manufacturing plants are located at Deepwater, Henry 
County^ Mo., and two in Illinois. 

Mr. Dickey is a prominent charter member of the Com- 
mercial Club, and has served on the Board of Directors; he 
was also the first president and one of the organizers of the 
Manufacturers' Association of Kansas City, U. S. A. Every 
public-spirited enterprise, which is for the good of Kansas 
City and Jackson County, has his unqualified support. 



228 



Swanson, J. 0. Beroth, Jno. P. Lynch, L. B. Sawyer, 
Frank Brinkley, W. H. Otto, A. D. Burrows, Jno. F. 
Wiedenmann, J. Q. Watkins, F. L. Middleton, F. X. 
Johnson. 

John Thomas, sergeant-at-arms. 

Board of Public Works. 

Geo. S. Graham, president; Geo. P. Hardesty, M. 
V. Watson, B. T. Whipple. 

1900. — Mayor, James A. Reed; secretary, J. G. L. 
Harvey; treasurer, James Cowgill; auditor, D. V. 
Kent; police judge, T. B. McAuley, Hermann Brum- 
back; attorney, Frank Gordon; counselors, R. B. Mid- 
dlebrook, R. J. Ingraham; comptroller, Hans Lund, A. 
E. Gallagher; clerk, C. S. Curry, E. J. Becker; physi 
clan, G. O. Coffin, J. M. Langsdale; chief of fire de- 
partment, Geo. C. Hale; chief of police, John Hayes. 
Aldermen, Upper House. 

Thos. M. Spofford,* Geo. M. Shelley, presidents; H. 
M. Beardsley, L. E. Wyne, A. F. Batt, E. S. Jewett, 
Frank C. Peck, S. B. Hough, W. W. Harnden, L. B. 
Sawyer, Jno. P. Strode, Jno. M. Rood, W. J. Knepp, 
Wm. Berry, W. A. Kelly,t Wm. M. Sloan. 

Wm. dough, sergeant at -arms. 
*Resigned. fDied. 

Councilmeti, Lower House. 

eTames Pendergast, John Conlon, Jno. P. O'Neill, 
Geo. F. Berry, O. H. Swearingen, Jno. P. Lynch, C. A. 
Adkins, Wm. J. Campbell, W. H. Otto, James Fair- 
weather, Joseph Hopkins, F. W. Tuttle, Jno. W. Mul- 
holland, E. L. Winn. 

W. D. Scoville, sergeant-at-arms. 

229 




FRANK P. WALSH. 



FRANK P. WALSH 

was born in St. Louis July 20, 18'64. A messenger boy at ten, 
earning his own living and studying at night he graduated 
frcm the Christian Brothers College in St. Louis. Then a rail- 
road clerk, next an expert stenographer he worked his way up 
until he came to Kansas City and was admitted to the bar in 
1889. He has served three terms as first assistant city coun- 
selor of Kansas City and tried all damage suits against the 
city during that time. He was so successful in this that he 
was employed by the Metropolitan Street Railway Company 
for years to defend its damage suits. He defended . Jesse 
James, Jr., on a charge of train robbery and secured his ac- 
quittal in March. 1899. He is also noted for having secured 
the largest verdict— $35.000— in a personal damage suit ever 
given in Missouri. As a lawyer Mr. Walsh is not only a 
splendid advocate, but he shows remarkable acumen and skill 
in preparing his cases, not so much by piling up tomes of au- 
thorities as in picking out the strongest points for his own 
side and exposing the weak spots in his opponent's. 

As a politician INIr. Walsh has never been a candidate for 
office, although as a member of the Democratic State Central 
Committee, and in the councils and conventions of the party 
he has made himself acknowledged and felt as a leader. His 
recent determined fight against the practice of receiving cam- 
paign contributions from public corporation — which he final- 
ly won against powerful odds — has made him known and 
admired throughout the State. 

As a man he is lovable, generous to a fault, sympathetic 
and kind to ail who are afflicted or unfortunate, but withal 
an uncompromising, resourceful and aggressive fighter in any 
cause he espouses. He can give and take sledge-hammer 
blows with equal cheerfulness and neither success nor defeat 
affects his equanimity. 



831 



HARRY D. TRAIN. 



HARRY D. TRAIN, 

president of the Missouri Republican Club, was born April 5, 
18G0, at Winona, Minn. He is of Irish ancestry on his father's 
side, while his mother is of old English stock, she being a 
sister of T. B. Bullene and also of the wife of Major 
William Warner. His father, H. C. Train, was a mechanic 
and inventor of some genius, one of his inventions being the 
copper cable lighting rod. Mr. Train started in life pushing 
his father's inventions. 

At the age of eight he came to Kansas City with his par- 
ents and was educated in the public schools of Kansas City. 
At the age of fourteen he started out to earn his own living. 
At the age of fifteen he entered the wholesale department of 
Bullene. Moore, Emery & Company, and was later with the 
dry goods firm of Grimes, Woods, La Force & Company. Al 
twenty-two he entered the employ of W. B. Winner, and dur- 
ing the four years he was v.'ith him he acquired a taste for the 
real estate business which he has so sucessfully handled ever 
since. During this period he laid out and platted the Pendle- 
ton Heights. 

In 1SS5 he was elected from the Seventh Ward to the City 
Council and was re-elected in 1S87. In 188S he resigned to 
take charge of the Ewart Charcoal Works of Pairplay, Mo., 
which he had purchased. After conducting them sucessfully 
f jr six years he returned to Kansas City in 1894. That fall he 
purchased the famous Romero ranch near Las Vegas, N. M.. 
and two years later he returned to Kansas City where he ha^ 
since resided. 

He has been president of the Missouri Republican Club 
for two terms. Mr Train is modest and unassuming to a 
degree, and has never been a candidate for office. He only 
consented to take the presidency of the Missouri Republican 
Club on account of the interest he feels in the advancement 
of the principles of his party. The present success of the 
club is almost wholly due to his energy, tact and liberality. 

At the age of twenty-one Mr. Train married Miss Dora 
Preeland, and of their happy union seven children were born, 
three of whom are now living. 

233 



The Missouri Republican Club of Kansas City. 



The Missouri Republican Club of Kansas City, the oldest 
political club in Kansas City, was organized and incorporated 
in the spring of 1897. Edwin B. Kratz circulated the member- 
ship list among the active workers of the different wards. The 
first meeting was held at the Midland Hotel, and the officers 
were chosen as follows: President, Edwin B. Kratz; secre- 
tary, Wm. Clough; treasurer, Walter S. Dickey. These three 
were named in the articles of incorporation and served for 
one year. At that time the club numbered about fifty 
members. 

After a few meetings at the Midland the Club moved to 
Zahner & Battell's hall, at 12 West Tenth Street, and in the 
latter part of that year moved again to 905 Baltimore Avenue, 
where it fitted up its first club rooms. In 1898 P. S. Brown. 
Jr., succeeded to the presidency and in 1899 he was followed 
by John H. Bovard, who was re-elected in 1900. In 1901 Harry 
D. Train was elected president and that spring the club es- 
tablished itself in its present larger quarters in the Lyceum 
building, which it fitted up with all the appointments of social 
club life, together with a large auditorium for political meet- 
ings. The club rooms are kept open from 9 a. m. to 11 p. m. 
and are the daily resort of many of the most prominent Re- 
publicans in Kansas City. The organization was completed 
on the plan of the N. Y. Club of New York city, and its laws 
declare that it was organized to promote harmony and univer- 
sal good fellowship in and for the party, and to furnish a 
central home for all Republicans. It is also stipulated that 
there shall be no dictation to ward clubs from central 
headquarters, but that each ward organization shall goverL 
itself. 

234 



Under President Train's energetic administration the 
club's affairs have prospered greatly and its membership has 
grown to about GOO, including such men as Major William 
Warner, Frank D. Roberts, Rush C. Lake, Wm. B. Clarke, 
Henry M. Beardsley, Colonel Sam F. Scott, Frank C. Peck, W. 
W. Harnden, Herman Brumback, Herbert S. Hadley, Chas. 
E. Small, Wallace Love, Senator C. W. Clark, Senator J. L. 
Jewell, W. B. C. Brown, E. L. AYinn, W. H. Otto, Homer B. 
Mann, W. S. Umbarger, Frank D. Tuttle, Francis L. Middle- 
ton, Wm. M. Sloan, J. M. Patterson and others not less 
prominent. 

The Club is the headquarters of the Republican City and 
County Committees during political campaigns. Between cam- 
paigns it keeps up the good fellowship for which it was pri- 
marily organized. 




JOHN M. ROOD. 



JOHN M. ROOD 

was born May 14, 1858, on a farm near Quincy, Illinois of 
Scotch-Irish parentage. He came to Kansas City about fifteen 
years age and began his life here as a lumber salesman. Dur- 
ing these years he has risen in business circles, until now he 
is vice-president of a large lumber company. 

In April, 1900, Mr. Rood was elected to the upper house of 
the City Council and he soon became widely known as one of 
the four men who supported Mayor Reed through thick and 
thin in his efforts to bring the public service corporations to a 
proper discharge of their obligations to the city and the public. 
All four were men of unblemished reputations in private life, 
and so, when the roll call showed Knepp, Rood, Sawyer and 
Strode voting for a measure, the people felt sure, without fur 
ther question, that it was right. Without their aid in the upper 
house. Mayor Reed's efforts would have been sadly crippled. 

Mr. Rood became a charter member of the Jackson County 
Democratic Club in the fall of 1900, and ever since he has been 
one of its staunchest supporters. In September, 1902, he was 
elected president of the club without opposition. He. enjoy? 
the confidence and esteem of all factions of the Democratic 
party, and, indeed, of all who know him, regardless of party. 
He is especially popular with the laboring classes and he de- 
k-erves to be, for he is their earnest champion and friend in 
season and out of season. He is noted for fairness and liber- 
ality in all his dealings. 



237 



Jackson County Democratic Club. 



The Jackson County Democratic Club was organized 
August 29, 1900, by a dozen Democrats who met in the law 
ofllces of L. B. Sawyer for that purpose. The organization 
grew out of the split in the Democratic party at the County 
Convention at Independence in August of that year. 

The objects of the organization were stated in its consti- 
tution and by-laws to be; to promote harmony in the party, 
to put down factionalism in whatever way necessary, and to 
furnish a meeting place for good fellowship among Demo- 
crats of all shades of opinion and for the discussion and ad- 
vancement of Democratic principles. 

Permanent organization was effected the following week 
with 145 members present at the meeting at the Midland 
Hotel. These officers were chosen: President, L. B. Sawyer; 
vice-president, P. H. Slattery; treasurer. Dr. George Halley; 
secretary, Thomas A. Marshall. 

The Club grew rapidly in membership and a House Com- 
mittee, or Governing Committeee as it was afterwards called, 
was appointed to select and furnish permanent headquarters. 
This committee was as follows: Chairman, C. B. Hayes; W. C. 
Scarritt, Ben F. Paxton, Sam B. Strother, GeoTge H. English, 
Jr., Ben E. Sylvester, John C. McCoy, A. B. H. McGee, Jr., and 
E. E. Porterfield. 

The committee selected the Club's present quarters in the 
Navajo building, at 716 Delaware street, and spent about 
$4,000 in alterations and furnishings, including billard rooms, 
bar, office and committee rooms, parlors, lunch rooms and 
an auditorium with a seating capacity of 1200. The Club took 
possession of its new quarters and gave a house-warming 
reception to the Democrats of Kansas City and Jackson Coun- 

238 



ty, October 17, 1900. About 3000 Democrats enjoyed its hos- 
pitality that evening and the success of the club was firmly 
established at once. The membership increased within a month 
to over 750. 

In view of the fact that the State Central Committee had 
intervened in the local Democratic split, and that an appeal 
had been taken to the Supreme Court of the State, the Club 
found no opportunity at that time to heal the breach, but after 
the Supreme Court's decision very earnest and efficient work 
was done in the campaign in behalf of the ticket The defeat 
of the party at the poll, however, had a very depressing effect 
and the Club's affairs languished until the following March 
when the Governing Committee was reconstituted as follows: 
Chairman, S. J. Hayde; E. B. Silkwood, Rudolph Markgraf, 
M. C. Byrne, B. F. Black, T. S. Ridge, B. E. Sylvester, J. Ray 
Samuels, B. F. Paxton and Dr. H. A. Longan. This committee, 
together with the officers of the Club, carried it through the 
trying period until the annual election in September, 1901, 
when the following officers were chosen: President, W. T. 
Kemper; vice-president, Frank P. Sebree; treasurer, Thos. S. 
Ridge; secretary, Alex. S. Rankin; sergeant-at-arms, George 
M. Bamfield. Under this administration the Club's affairs 
prospered, the approaching elections greatly stimulating in- 
terest, and the membership nearly doubled. The work of or- 
ganizing ward and precinct clubs was pushed, and in the 
municipal campaign in the spring of 1902 the club did effective 
work for the party ticket. The annual election in September, 
1902, resulted as follows: President, John M. Rood; vice- 
president, Thos. J. Seehorn; treasurer, Sam B. Strother; sec- 
retary, Alex. S. Rankin; seargent-at-arms, Patrick Sheehan. 
The Club is now on a firm foundation and grows and in- 
creases as a powerful instrument for the good in the party. 
It enjoys a national reputation for having entertained Wm. J. 
Bryan, Wm. J. Stone, and other Democratic leaders who have 
delivered important addresses in its hall. 



239 




C. C. YOST. 



CHARLES C. YOST, 

president of the Republican League of Kansas City, was born 
December 29, 1860, at Rochester, Indiana, of German ancestry. 
His great grandfather, John H. Yost, served under General 
Washington in the War of the Revolution, and afterwards 
settled in Pennsylvania on a farm that is now the site of 
Falrmount Park, Philadelphia. 

The subject of this sketch came to Kansas City when he 
was ten years of age. He attended the city schools and gradu- 
ated from the High School at the age of sixteen. After two 
years in the grocery business he entered into partnership with 
L. M. Berkley in the wholesale and retail grocery business, 
which was successfully conducted for ten years. In 1890 he 
organized the Yost Grocery Company, which did a large busi- 
ness for four years until he sold out in 1894. In that year 
he established a novelty market on a new and original plan, 
which proved a great success. 

In 1895 Mr. Yost was elected City Assessor and conducted 
the affairs of the office with marked ability for six years. In 
politics he proved himself one of the hardest and most effi- 
cient workers for the Republican party that his party ever had, 
Mr. Yost was elected president of the Republican League 
in 1901 when organization was effected and its success 
is largely due to his efforts. He is also chairman of the 
executive committee of the Missouri Republican Club. 

He is now a member of the Smith-Yost Pie Company, one 
of the model concerns of its kind in the West. 

In 1893 Mr. Yost was married to Miss Hattie H. Beedle 
of Johnson County, Kansas. 



241 



Republican League. 



The Republican League was formed in the spring of 1901 
for the purpose of giving the Republican party a complete 
precinct and ward organization. The organizer was L. A. 
Laughlin and the first meeting was held in the assembly room 
at Turner Hall. Charles C. Yost was elected president and 
Everett E. Elliott secretary. The executive committee is as 
follows: C. C. Yost, Wallace Love, George Kumpf, Charles 
Schattner, Everett E. Elliott, L. A. Laughlin, Homer B. Mann, 
James Smith, George A. Neal. 

The business is transacted by 144 precinct captains and 
ward presidents in what is called an "asssembly meeting." 
These meetings arei held at the Missouri Republican Club 
rooms. 

The organization is entirely non-factional and has never 
been active in nominating caucusses. In fact, the League sup- 
ports no candidates for the nominations, but does very effect- 
ive work in their behalf in campaigns and at the polls, 
after they are chosen by the whole party. Its membership is 
about 1300. 



242 



Board of Public Works, 

Thos. M. Spofford, Geo. M. Shelley, presidents; S. 
J. Hayde, Wm. Wright, Geo. Kumpf. 

1902. — Mayor, eTames A. Reed; secretary, J. G. L. 
Harvey; treasurer, James Cowgill; auditor, D. V. 
Kent; police judge, Hugh 0. Brady; attorney, J. L. 
Morgan; counselor, R. J. Ingraham; clerk, E. J. 
Becker; physician, J. M. Langsdale; chief of fire de- 
partment, Edward Trickett; chief of police, John 
Hayes. 

Aldermen, Upper House. 

Geo. M. Shelley, president; L. B. Sawyer, John P. 
Strode, John M. Rood, W. J. Knepp, Wm. Berry, W. 
M. Sloan, S. 0. Woodson, Jno. T. Murray, Wm. Abel, 
Baylis Steele, E. S. Cromwell, W. 0. Tyree, John W. 
Meier. 

Geo. S. McClanahan, sergeant-at-arms. 

Cou7icilmen, Lower House. 

James Pendergast, D. F. Martin, John F. Lumpkin, 
W. S. Umbarger, John Scanlon, Jno. P. Lynch, C. A. 
Adkins, R. P. Greenlee, W. H. Otto, Homer B. Mann, 
C. L. V. Hedrick, F. W. Tuttle, F. L. Middleton, E. L. 
Winn. 

W. D. Scoville, sergeant-at-arms. 

Board of Public Worhs. 

Geo. M. Shelley, president; S. H. Hayde, William 
Wright, A. J. Mehl. 



243 




K. MONT. REILY. 



E. MONT PvEILY, 
assistant postmaster and president of the Roosevelt Club, No. 
1, was born October 21, 1866, at Sedalia, Mo., of Scotch-Irish 
parentage. His father, John G. Reily, was a cousin of Gov- 
ernor Gamble, the first Republican Governor of Missouri. 
His mother was a Virginian. Mr. Reily's early education 
was received in Calloway County, to which the family had 
moved. When he was fifteen the family moved to Port Worth, 
Texas, where he attended the high school and Fort Worth 
University. Afterward he engaged in the real-estate business 
and was quite successful. He twice received the Republican 
nomination for clerk of Tarrant County, Texas, once at the 
age of twenty-one, and again at twenty-three. He was elected 
chairman of the City and County Republican Committee 
twice, and was a member of the State Committee when he 
moved to Kansas City in 1892. He engaged in the newspaper 
business for three years, and was chairman of the Campaign 
Committee of the Lincoln Club during the Jones campaign 
in 1896, after which he was appointed private secretary to 
Mayor Jones and served two terms. In 1900 he purchased 
an interest in the Hailman-Reily Printing Company, selling 
out in June, 1901, to accept the position of chief deputy 
county assessor. In May, 1902, he was appointed assistant 
postmaster of Kansas City. 

The first Roosevelt Club in the United States was organ- 
ized by Mr. Reily in Kansas City, July 18, 1901. The club 
grew like a green bay tree and now numbers 3,500 members, 
the largest political club west of the Mississippi River. Mr. 
Reily was an enthusiastic admirer of Mr. Roosevelt long be- 
fore the latter became President, and a warm friendship has 
sprung up between them. 

Mr. Reily is a man of unusual ability concealed under 
modest and courteous manners. He is exceedingly loyal to 
his friends and his party. In August, 1893, at Fort Worth, 
Tex., he married Miss Minnie Mountfortt, a sister of Wade 
Mountfortt, associate editor of the Kansas City Star. They 
have one child, a girl. 

245 



Roosevelt Club. 



The 1904 Roosevelt Club No. 1 was organized July 18, 1901, 
the first Roosevelt Club in the United States, so said Mr. 
Roosevelt who became president September 13, 1901. 

The club was organized at the Midland hotel. The meet- 
ing was called to order by Gus Dose who stated its object, 
after which E. Mont Reily was unanimously elected chairman. 
A resolution was adopted instructing the committee on per- 
manent organization to report Mr. Reily's name for president 
of the club. The oflacers chosen were: President. E. Mont 
Reily; first vice-president, J. D. Wells; second vice-president, 
J. Ed Jewell; secretary, M. E. Getchell; assistant secretary, 
Guy W. Lodwick; treasurer. Dr. B. H. Wheeler. 

In view of the fact the club was organized for the pur- 
pose of laying plans for the nomination and election of Mr. 
Roosevelt in 1904, the platform declared that the club should 
devote itself exclusively to that purpose, and the organiza 
tion was declared permanent for four years. The executive 
committee was named as follows: Chairman. J. H. Harris; 
secretary, M. A. Pursley; Chas. E. Small, Dr. G. O. Coffin, 
Frank C. Peck, L. M. Cox, C. C. Anderson, Chas. R. Pence, 
Benj. Spitz 

Within two weeks after the organization the club num- 
bered 1100 members, which grew to over 2000 within a month. 
At present the club has 3500 members, making it the largest 
political organization west of the Mississippi River. Since 
that time the club has been instrumental in organizing over 
fifty Roosevelt Clubs in the State, and the worK will be carried 
on until the club has a branch in each of the 115 counties of 
Missouri, It was through the influence of this movement that 
the resolution endorsing Roosevelt for 1904 was carried in 

246 



the Republican state convention at Jefferson City, June 29, 
1902. Two of the club's members, George A. Neal and W.. C. 
Dunn, were elected members of the State Committee from 
Jackson County. Chas. E, Small of the club's executive com- 
mittee was elected chairman of the Republican County Com- 
mittee. Endorsements of Mr. Roosevelt's candidacy in 1904 
were secured in both the City and County Committees in the 
teeth of a large opposition, controlled by Kerns, which is 
secretly opposed to Roosevelt. 

The club comprises in its membership nearly all of the 
prominent Republicans of Kansas City, its membership being 
especially strong among the business and professional men, 
such as Frank A. Faxon, J. V. C. Karnes, Albert Marty, L. M. 
Miller and others of that type. 

When Mr, Roosevelt passed through Kansas City the club 
met him at the train in a body and he was very much pleased 
with the reception. He shook hands heartily with each mem- 
ber and invited E. Mont Reily, its president, to accompany 
him on the trip, which he did. A significant incident, illus- 
trating President Roosevelt's appreciation of the club, as well 
as his own sturdy character, occurred at the White House 
shortly after he became president. A party of Missouri poli- 
ticians calling on the President in regard to Federal appoint- 
ments in the State, attempted to belittle the club in the 
President's eye. He stopped them at once, saying, "I don't 
care to hear anything on that subject, Mr. Reily is my friend 
and the members of that Club are all my friends." 

The Club is working actively to arrange for a visit from 
President Roosevelt to Kansas City as soon as his other en- 
gagements will permit. 



247 




'i't^E:; 



UNITED STATES 

TRUST COMPANY, 

OF KANSAS CITY, MO. 
Capital, .... $250,000 

Transacts a General Trust Company Business. 

Acts as trustee, receiver or assignee; also as executor or guardian. Acts as 
trustee under mortgages or deeds of trust; and as agent for the registration and 
transfer of stocks and bonds, and for the payment of coupons ^nd dividends. 



W. B. Clarke, President. 

J. W. Barney, Secretary. 



A. A. ToMLiNSON, Vice-President. 
E. S. BiGELOW, Treasurer. 




MOUNT WASHINGTON CEMETERY 

KANSAS CITY, MO. 

February, 1901, Mount Washington Cemetery was incorporated 

under the laws of Missouri by the following well-known gentlemen: 

Frank Askew Vice-President and Secretary Askew Saddlery Company 

H. M. Beardsley Beardsley, Gregory & Kirshner, I,awyers 

J, K. Burnhani , , President Burnham, Hanna, Munger Dry Goods Company 

Victor B. Bell Retired 

Alonzo Burt Manager Missouri and Kansas Telephone Company 

J. T. Bira Vice-President Emery, Bird, Thayer Dry Goods Company 

W. A. Bunker Real Estate 

Jefferson Brumback L,aw3^er 

John H. Bovard Vice-President Northwestern Coal and Mining Company 

J. W. Barney Secretary The United States Trust Company 

Phil. E. Chappell President and Manager Safe Deposit Company 

Charles Campbell President Campbell Glass and Paint Company 

G. ly. Chrisman Chrisman & Sawyer, Bankers, Independence, Mo. 

Bernard Corrigan Railroad Contractor 

William B. Clarke President The United States Trust Company 

E. M. Clendening Secretary Commercial Club 

William H. Chapman President Chapman-Dewey Lumber Company 

L,. S. Cady Cady & Olmstead, Jewelers 

Joseph S. Chick J. S. Chick & Son, Real Estate 

B. C. Christopher B. C. Christopher & Co., Grain 

Fred S. Doggett Manager Blossom House 



W. S. Dickey President Dickey Clay Manufacturing Company 

H. F. Devol President Eagle Manufacturing Company 

U. S. Epperson Manager George Fowler, Son & Co., l,imited 

C. C. English President English Supply and Engine Company 

H. W. Evans President Evans Smith Drug Company, Wholesale 

W. M. Fible Houston, Fible & Co., Financial Brokers 

George W. Fuller Secretary and Manager John Deere Plow Company 

H. C. Flower, President Fidelity Trust Company 

F. A . Faxon Faxon, Horton & Gallagher, Wholesale Drugs 

J. C. Fennell.. Assistant Secretary and Treasurer Emery, Bird, Thayer Dry Goods Co. 

John C. Gage Gage, l,add & Small, Lawyers 

Frank 1,. Hall Vice-President Abernathy Furniture Company 

C. J. Hubbard Financial Agent 

Frank Hagerman Lawyer 

J. C. Horton Faxon, Horton & Gallagher, Wholesale Drugs 

Daniel B. Holmes Holmes & Perry, Lawyers 

H. L- Harmon General Southwestern Agent C. B. & Q. Ry, 

William Huttig President Western Sash and Door Company 

Ford F. Harvey General Manager Santa Fe Dining Car and Hotel Service 

Joseph G. Heim President Ferd. Heim Brewing Company 

Michael G. Heim .Superintendent Ferd. Heim Brewing Company 

Ferdinand Heim Secretary Ferd. Heim Brewing Company 

James T. Holmes Capitalist 

R. W. Jones, Jr President American National Bank 

J. C. James T. M. James & Sons, Queensware 

E. S. Jewett Passenger and Ticket Agent Missouri Pacific Railway 

J. Martin Jones Vice-President American National Bank 

Richard H, Keith President Central Coal and Coke Company 

J. V. C. Karnes Karnes, New, Hall & Krauthoff , Lawyers 

George E. Kessler Landscape Architect 

Stuart R. Knott President Kansas City & Southern Railway 

Gardiner Lathrop Lathrop, Morrow, Fox & Moore, Lawyers 

John Long Retired 

C. H. V. Lewis Cashier Union National Bank 

W. H. Lucas Johnson & Lucas, Lawyers 

G. W. Megeath General Manager Central Coal and Coke Company 

C. F. Morse. .Vice-President and General Manager Kansas City Stock Yards Company 

L. R Moore Retired 

J. R. Mercer Jeweler 

C. A. Murdock President C. A. Murdock Manufacturing Company 

R. Macmillan Secretary Kansas City, Missouri Gas Company 

John H. Murray Manager Southwestern Chemical Company 

A. R. Meyer President Consolidated Kansas City Smelting and Refining Company 

Alexander New Karnes, New, Hall & Krauthott, Lawyers 

John Perry Retired 

W. C. Perry Holmes & Perry, Lawyers 

C. D. Parker CD. Parker & Co., Real Estate 

George B. Peck President Doggett Dry Goods Company 

Wallace Pratt Pratt, Dana & Black, Lawyers 

J. G. Peppard Wholesale Seeds 

William M, Reid President Thayer-Moore Brokerage Company 

John A. Ross Lawyer 

B. D. Rowe Secretary and Treasurer Meyer-Clarke-Rowe Mines Company 

J F Richards President Richards & Conover Hardware Company, Wholesale 

W. A. Rule Cashier National Bank of Commerce 

J. D, Robertson President Inter-State National Bank 

A. F. Sawyer President Chrisman-Sawyer Banking Company 

J. G. Strean Vice-President City National Bank 

E. L Scarritt Scarritt, Griffith & Jones, Lawyers 

W. C. Scarritt ..Scarritt, Griffith & Jones, Lawyers 

E. F. Swinney President First National Bank 

C. J. Schmelzer President and Treasurer J. F. Schmelzer & Sons' Arms Company 

G. T. Stockham Manager Grand Avenue Hotel Company 

George C. Smith President Smith-McCord Dry Goods Company 

J. J. Swofford President Swofford Bros.' Dry Goods Company 



A. Iv. O. Schueler President Land Title Guarantee Company 

W. Ji. Thayer Secretary and Treasurer Emery, Bird, Thayer Dry Goods Company 

Al f red Toll President and General Manager Badger Lumber Company 

A. A. Tomlinson Vice-President The United vStates Trust Company 

Norton Thaj'er Vice-President Thayer-Moore Brokerage Company 

J. H. Wiles Secretary and Treasurer Mourit Candy and Cracker Company 

W.S.Woods President National Bank of Commerce 

M. V. Watson Secretary Kansas City Paper Hou=e 

B. T. Whipple President B. T. Whipple Real Estate Company 

H. P. Wright HP. Wright & Co , Brokers 

W. H. Winants Vice-President National Bank of Commerce 

Benj. L. Winchell President Kansas City, Fort Scott & Memphis Railroad 

A A. Whipple Vice-President Whipple- Woods Realty Company 

R. I, Yeager Yeager, Strother & Yeager, Lawyers 

The Company purchased what is known as Washington Park, a 
tract of ground adjoining the city on the east, containing about 400 
acres. The title to the property and the plan of organization were 
thoroughly investigated by the following eminent attorneys, who 
joined in the opinion that the title to said tract of land was well vested 
in fee simple in Mount Washington Cemetery, free of all incumbrances 
and that under the terms of the contract of purchase said land was 
forever dedicated to cemetery purposes. 

Under the direction of Mr. Geo. E. Kessler, the Ivandscape Archi- 
tect of Kansas City's Park and Boulevard system and the St. Louis 
Exposition, the grounds are being laid out on a most elaborate and 
extensive scale, and will undoubtedly take first rank among the beau- 
tiful cemeteries of the country. 

OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS. 

Wallace Pratt President. 

E. L. SCARRITT. . First Vice-President. 

W. C. Perry. Second Vice-President. 

W. B. Clarke Third Vice-President. 

E. S. BiGELOW Secretary and Treasurer. 

J. K. Burnham. Frank Hagerman Joseph J. Heim. 

A. F. Sawyer. "C. E. Small. W. S. Woods. 

Geo. E. Kessler, Lan'' scape Architect. 

City Office, Room 101 N. Y. Life Bldg. 




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